Kathmandu: Anti-corruption protesters in Nepal defied an indefinite curfew on Tuesday, taking to the streets and chanting slogans against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The demonstrators, under the banner of Gen Z, shouted slogans such as "KP Chor, Desh Chhod" (KP thief, leave the country) and "Take Action Against Corrupt Leaders" in multiple parts of the capital. The unrest comes a day after 19 people were killed in violent clashes sparked by a government-imposed social media ban.

Protesters torched the residence of Prime Minister Oli at Balkot in Bhaktapur. Oli is currently at the official Prime Minister’s residence at Balwatar. The agitators also pelted stones at the residence of Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung in Sunakothi, Lalitpur, who had ordered the social media ban. The homes of former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at Khumaltar and Sher Bahadur Deuba at Budhanilkantha were also vandalised, witnesses said.

Oli called an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss Nepal's fast-deteriorating political situation, scheduling it for 6 pm, though the venue was not specified. Protesters also set fire to the residence of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak at Naikap in Kathmandu. Lekhak resigned on Monday following the police crackdown on youth protesters, which left 19 dead and over 300 injured.

The social media ban, imposed last week, blocked several platforms including Facebook and X, citing non-registration with the government. Following Monday’s violent protests, the government lifted the ban. Cabinet spokesperson and Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed, "We have withdrawn the shutdown of social media. They are working now." All apps were accessible in Nepal on Tuesday morning, Reuters verified.

Despite the lifting of the ban, anger against the government persisted. Protesters gathered in front of Parliament and other key locations in Kathmandu, defying the indefinite curfew, under which schools and shops are closed and public gatherings are banned. Manjita Manandhar, a protester, said Gen Z youths were holding peaceful demonstrations at Maitighar Mandala near the Prime Minister’s office. A Reuters witness reported that protesters also burnt tyres along Kathmandu’s Ring Road.

The protests have spread to other cities, with organisers branding them as “Gen Z demonstrations” driven by young people’s frustration over corruption and lack of economic opportunities. The group has used platforms like Reddit and Instagram to expose the lavish lifestyles of ministers’ children and other influential figures, questioning the sources of their wealth.

Oli, 73, was sworn in for his fourth term in July last year as Nepal’s 14th prime minister since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. Two of his cabinet colleagues resigned late Monday on moral grounds, citing the police crackdown on student protesters. Meanwhile, India, home to hundreds of thousands of Nepali migrant workers, said it is "closely monitoring" the situation and urged all parties to exercise restraint.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in Kathmandu to prevent further unrest. Kathmandu district administrator Chhabilal Rijal said, "No protests, mass gatherings, meetings, or assemblies of people will be allowed during the curfew." Protesters have called for condolence meetings in memory of those killed. In Lalitpur district, a curfew was imposed until midnight.

Oli expressed sorrow over the violence, attributing it to "infiltration from different selfish centres," and announced relief for victims’ families and free treatment for the injured. "An investigation panel will be set up to find out the causes, assess losses and suggest measures within 15 days to ensure such incidents are not repeated," he said.

Protesters’ demands include the resignation of PM Oli, formation of a national government, strict action against corrupt politicians, guaranteed freedom of expression, and introduction of a retirement age for political officeholders. Social media posts have amplified calls for Oli’s resignation and the creation of a new government.

Nepali Congress leaders have demanded immediate action. General Secretary Gagan Thapa urged Oli to resign, while senior leaders Bimalendra Nidhi and Arjun Narsingh Kesi called for the party to withdraw ministers from the Oli government, form a national government, and engage with the Gen Z group. They also proposed establishing a powerful anti-corruption body to investigate the assets of officials.

Two Nepali Congress ministers, Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari and Health and Population Minister Pradip Poudel, resigned citing the government’s harsh response to Monday’s protests.

Monday’s violence left 19 youths, including a 12-year-old student, dead, and more than 300 injured after police used firing, baton charges, and tear gas to disperse demonstrators opposing widespread corruption and the social media ban.
(With inputs from Reuters and PTI)