Recent protests in Nepal, driven by Gen-Z, erupted in response to the government’s ban on 26 social media apps and widespread corruption. Initially peaceful, the movement escalated into violence, resulting in tragic deaths and destruction of public property, including government buildings.
Photo : AP
Nepal in the past few days witnessed events unfolding at turbulent speeds that have shocked the world and its own people. In what is being termed a Gen-Z protest, the world saw a surge of thousands and lakhs of young people angry over the government’s decision to ban as many as 26 social media apps, including global platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and X.
The youth’s agitation was not just against the government’s ban on social media apps, but also against corruption, as citizens had been witnessing how politicians and their families were living luxurious lives while common people struggled. Many reports say the government banned social media because a youth-driven movement was in the making to expose the lavish lifestyles of politicians and their children.
Social media posts—before the ban—were exposing the ultra-luxurious lives of netas and their families like studying in foreign universities, vacationing in global destinations, rich, powerful, and full of privileges, at the expense of taxpayers who were struggling for basic needs.
The agitation turned violent when several protesters were allegedly killed by the security forces in an attempt to thwart and control them. What followed after this was an unprecedented mess as agitators, in a fit of rage, set fire to their own Parliament, the President’s House, the Prime Minister’s residence, and other ministers’ homes—forgetting that all of this was funded by taxpayers and that they were burning down their own infrastructure.
Disturbing scenes emerged on Tuesday evening when the violent mob lost full control and went full throttle against politicians. Their houses were targeted, and families were seen running for lives.
The angry mob chased them, thrashed them, brutally beat them, and even attempted attacks with the intent to kill. One particularly horrifying event unfolded on August 9, when the wife of a former Prime Minister was reportedly burned alive. While some reports suggested that she succumbed to injuries, many claimed she’s alive, undergoing treatment and recovering.
While this was one case that was seen and recorded on camera, it’s enough to hint to the world what was happening on the ground.
While the youth may have started their agitation with pure intentions—to punish a corrupt government—the scenes also show that even the protesters crossed many red lines. Yet, they are still being praised instead of being held accountable for the destruction they caused, which affected many businesses with no connection to politics.
How It All Began
What began as a peaceful protest quickly became a nightmare for the ruling dispensation under the leadership of now-resigned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The protest began with demands to restore social media sites, which had been banned following a Supreme Court order that the government enforced. The youth also demanded action against corrupt politicians and a complete overhaul of the government.
As seen in protests worldwide, the empowered youth locked horns with the administration, which resorted to traditional means of force—water cannons, baton charges, and tear gas—to disperse and control the crowd.
But the agitators, young and determined, refused to tolerate the mess any longer. When they advanced their protest toward VVIP areas like the Parliament, President’s House, Prime Minister’s residence, and other ministers’ homes, the situation turned violent.
Nepal’s Gen-Z protest was fully justified in its basic demands: Like action against corrupt leadership and the restoration of social media as a tool for freedom of expression.
During the week-long movement, the agitators succeeded in forcing the government to wave the white flag first and accept all their demands—including restoring social media and the resignation of key ministers, including Finance, Home, and even the Prime Minister. The resignation of the Prime Minister meant the collapse of the government—the ultimate goal of the agitators.
So, they should have stopped right there. But what followed was shocking and disturbing.
Crossing the Red Line
Once the youth realised they had the edge, they turned more violent—and that’s when they crossed the red lines.
Protesters misused their advantage by setting fire to public property, including the PM and President’s residences and even the Parliament. They ransacked public buildings, private offices, media houses, and looted valuables.
Some posts on social media also showed how demonstrators were so agitated and rampant in creating chaos, damaging public and private property that was hurting their own citizens. One video on X showed a woman along with a child pleading protesters not to vandalise the place but the ‘wild GenZ agitators’ didn’t spare them.
This is the BIGGEST FAFO video from the Nepal GenZ Protests!
A young female protester tries to protect a building. She is crying and weeping.
Other Gen Z protesters (male) shove her aside with utter disregard! pic.twitter.com/MErlhU4bRW
— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) September 10, 2025
These acts do not justify the praise Gen-Z has been receiving from many voices across the world who say, “Hey look, look at Gen-Z, they won’t tolerate this… they will bring change, they want accountability, they want instant results, they are impatient and they take no nonsense.”
Well, sorry—when you misuse your advantage and commit mistakes against the very acts you were protesting against, you’re no saint but an equal offender of the law.
Attacking and chasing politicians with murderous intent, setting their houses on fire, and burning family members of a former head of state, setting on fire your own infrastructure like a 5-star hotel, puts the protesters under the same scrutiny they were demanding—and this cannot be swept under the carpet of praise.
This sends absolutely wrong signals to other nations and youth. In fact, some in India have already started laying the early foundations, just as they did when similar scenes were witnessed in Bangladesh, when a student-led movement toppled the government last year.
In less than 48 hours, Gen-Z protesters in Nepal:
- Burned down multiple politicians’ houses
- Continued protests despite curfews and firing across multiple cities
- Forced the Prime Minister to resign
- Entered Parliament and set it ablaze
The Ripple Effect
Many in India are now portraying and instigating youth to take cues from Nepal’s “Gen-Z revolution,” indirectly tempting them to raise similar anarchic ideologies to destabilise the nation. These are not the right signals.
Their acts are well documented. Many young people don’t view with a long term planning and are easily manipulated into movements that could put them—and their nation—in danger.
We’ve seen this in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. These movements, if not executed, paused, and ended at the right moment, often come back to haunt the very people who planned them.
A Bigger Game?
There is hardly any doubt that the recent events in Nepal are a product of foreign funding.
Let’s not forget that India too has been targeted by regime change operations—movements that could have affected its economic progress. Deep-state actors like George Soros have been called out for sponsoring protests and public movements to create anarchic agitations. The goal? To turn people into rebels, erode trust in government, and ultimately collapse the nation to a point where it can no longer resist foreign influence.
