Nepal is facing one of the worst political crises in decades as Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after days of violent youth-led protests that erupted across the nation.

At least 19 people were killed while more than 300 were injured in the protests, which started government’s sudden ban on social media. The move was seen as a crackdown on dissent and triggered the mobilisation of Gen Z demonstrators.

The police resorted to extreme measures as the protests turned violent, with iconic government sites, including the parliament and residences of top leaders, set ablaze.

With the Prime Minister out of office, Nepal’s parliament, opposition parties, and demonstrators are locked in a standoff over the country’s future, demanding far-reaching reforms and accountability.

Amid mounting crisis in the Himalayan nation, Invezz spoke with Rishi Gupta, Assistant Director at the Asia Society Policy Institute, New Delhi, to better understand the behind-the-scenes of the crisis in Nepal and what’s next after the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Excerpts:

Invezz: How do you see the immediate risks to political stability after PM’s resignation, especially as opposition parties and the military negotiate next steps?

Rishi Gupta: Nepal’s Prime Minister stepping down has given young protesters a real shot at pushing through reforms, but it’s created a dangerous power vacuum too.

The youth managed to force out leadership and get people demanding transparency, which is huge. But now opposition parties and the military are scrambling to figure out next steps while dealing with widespread anger.

The tricky part is managing expectations as people want major changes fast, but rushing could backfire. Move too slowly though, and more protests could erupt.

Nepal’s basically at a fork in the road: this could either launch a new era of inclusive politics or spiral into deeper chaos, depending on how quickly leaders respond to what young people are demanding.

Invezz: How did Nepal’s government justify both the social media ban and the subsequent forceful police response, and how do these justifications align with trends in youth mobilization and dissent?

Rishi Gupta: Nepal’s government says they banned social media to protect the country and make tech companies follow new registration rules.

Officials claim it’s about stopping fake news and holding these platforms accountable under Nepali law. But the real reason was to silence growing criticism about government failures and corruption scandals.

The heavy-handed police crackdown on protesters made things worse, highlighting this major clash between authorities trying to control criticism and young people who rely on social media to organize, speak out, and expose what’s going wrong with their government.

For Nepal’s youth, these platforms aren’t just social networks as they are essential tools for political action and free speech. This whole conflict is just adding fuel to the fire and making people even angrier with how things are being handled.

The ‘Nepo Kids’ scandal effect?

Invezz: To what extent did corruption and “Nepo Kids” scandals affect the legitimacy of Nepal’s leadership, and how has Gen Z’s digital activism shifted narratives around these issues?

Rishi Gupta: Nepal’s Gen Z isn’t protesting out of nowhere as they are fed up with decades of political chaos and broken promises about development.

These young people are plugged into social justice issues and they have had enough of the corruption and nepotism that everyone calls “Nepo Kids,” basically politicians’ relatives getting cushy jobs and special treatment.

These scandals have completely trashed the government’s credibility and shown how corrupt the whole political elite really is.

But what’s different now is how Gen Z uses social media to get their message out, bypassing traditional media that often stays quiet about these issues.

They are demanding real transparency and accountability from a system that’s always operated behind closed doors.

This isn’t just complaining as it’s a flat-out rejection of how things have always been done and a push for actual democratic reform and fair development that benefits everyone, not just the connected few.

Invezz: Do you think international criticism like statements from UN, Amnesty International played a role in shaping government response?

Rishi Gupta: International groups like the UN and Amnesty have been calling out Nepal’s governance and human rights problems for years, but honestly, their criticism hasn’t been strong or consistent enough to shake things up this dramatically.

The massive protests and violent crackdowns we are seeing now aren’t really because of outside pressure as they are happening because people inside Nepal are absolutely fed up with corruption, nepotism, and censorship.

Sure, when international organizations demand investigations and respect for civil rights, it adds some moral backing to the protesters’ cause.

But those calls alone weren’t enough to force any real policy changes or get officials to resign.

What’s really driving government decisions right now is the sheer scale and intensity of youth-led protests happening in their own backyard.

The immediacy of thousands of angry young Nepalis in the streets is way more powerful than diplomatic statements from abroad. It’s domestic fury, not international finger-wagging, that’s forcing change.

What’s next for Nepal?

Invezz: Looking ahead, what policy or governance reforms are most urgently demanded by Nepalese youth, and what scenarios could emerge if their calls for accountability are not met?

Rishi Gupta: The changes Nepal’s young people want can’t happen unless all political parties get on board, but the catch is that they don’t want the same old faces at the bargaining table anymore.

Protesters are demanding completely fresh leadership that actually gets what they’re fighting for, because they are sick of the corruption and nepotism that’s been running the show.

There’s no magic solution waiting in the wings, but this crisis could be the opening for a whole new generation of leaders to step up as people who can actually rebuild trust and push through real reforms.

The big question is whether the current power players will make room for this generational change or fight to keep their grip on control.

How this plays out will basically determine where Nepal heads next. Either the old guard steps aside and lets new voices lead, or they dig in their heels and risk making everything worse.

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