President & Army urges peaceful dialogue amid Gen Z protests in Nepal

Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel on Tuesday appealed to citizens participating in the ongoing Gen Z movement to pursue dialogue and peace, as the country grapples with unrest following Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation. In an official statement, President Paudel stressed that with Oli’s resignation already accepted, “the nation must focus on resolving the crisis without further bloodshed or destruction.” He urged all parties to “remain calm, prevent further harm, and come to the table for talks,” adding that in a democracy, citizen demands should be addressed through negotiation.

The appeal comes after days of violent demonstrations outside the Federal Parliament, where security forces opened fire on protesters, leaving at least 19 dead and hundreds injured. Demonstrators also stormed key government buildings, including Parliament and the Office of the President at Shital Niwas. The Nepali Army had earlier called on citizens, particularly the youth, to exercise restraint and safeguard the country’s cultural and historical heritage.

The unrest began on September 8 in Kathmandu and spread to Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj after the government announced a ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Authorities cited tax revenue and cybersecurity concerns, but citizens denounced the move as an attack on free speech.

As unrest continues in Nepal, Uttar Pradesh's border districts saw empty markets, with residents grappling with cancelled travel plans and severed family contacts across the frontier and many expressing concern over the disruption of their daily lives. In Bahraich's Rupaidiha town, which usually bustles with Nepali shoppers, markets have fallen silent. "Normally, our markets thrive because Nepali buyers come here for daily needs. But now, the markets are silent. Families on both sides are interlinked by marriages, so the unrest has left people here worried," said Dr Uma Shankar Vaishya, chairman of the local nagar panchayat.