Gen Z–led protests rock Nepal, forcing curfews and army deployment. Lekhak quits, but calls grow louder for PM K.P. Sharma Oli to step down.
BY PC Bureau
September 8, 2025: Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned Monday evening , taking moral responsibility for the deaths of at least 20 protesters during widespread demonstrations against the government’s controversial social media ban.
The protests, spearheaded by tech-savvy Generation Z (Gen Z), quickly escalated into violent clashes, leaving over 250 injured and prompting curfews, school closures, and the deployment of the Nepal Army. The unrest has since spread to multiple cities beyond Kathmandu, signaling a nationwide crisis. This report outlines the sequence of events, underlying causes, government responses, and potential implications, based on news reports and social media analysis.
The Oli government, led by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of the CPN-UML, announced a ban on 26 unregistered social media and messaging platforms effective September 4, 2025. The affected platforms include Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and LinkedIn.
READ: 20 Killed as Nepal Gen Z Revolts Against Social Media Ban
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology justified the move as regulatory enforcement, citing non-compliance with a Supreme Court ruling of August 17, 2025, which required local registration, grievance officers, and taxation. Officials claimed that unregulated platforms fueled misinformation, hate speech, fraud, and posed threats to national sovereignty.
The decision coincided with a wave of high-profile corruption scandals, deepening public anger:
- July 2025: Federal Affairs Minister Rajkumar Gupta resigned after a leaked audio revealed him soliciting a NPR 7.8 million bribe for land commission appointments.
- Immigration scams at Tribhuvan International Airport exposed trafficking rackets involving Home Ministry employees, sparking earlier calls for Lekhak’s resignation.
- A controversial ordinance allowing real estate firms to bypass landholding limits, tied to the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate dispute, fueled allegations of government collusion with business elites.
With 90% internet penetration, Nepali youth—already frustrated by unemployment, economic stagnation, and corruption—saw the ban as an attack on communication and livelihoods. The move disrupted e-commerce, content creation, migrant family connections, and tourism promotion, igniting outrage.
Protests Erupt: From Peaceful Rallies to Violent Clashes
On September 8, the youth-led group “Hami Nepal” organized peaceful demonstrations at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu. Thousands of young protesters, many in uniforms, marched toward Parliament carrying national flags and placards reading:
- “Shut down corruption, not social media”
- “Unban social media”
- “Youths against corruption”
Organizers emphasized non-violence, citing youth-led protests in Sri Lanka (2022) and Bangladesh (2024) as inspiration.
🚨 BIG! Nepal’s Home Minister RESIGNS amid nationwide anger over the social media BAN.
Deadly protests have already KILLED 19 people and left 347 INJURED in violent clashes across Kathmandu. pic.twitter.com/BMOg3ngWTj
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 8, 2025
However, tensions exploded when demonstrators breached barricades near Parliament, chanting anti-Oli slogans and demanding his resignation. Riot police retaliated with water cannons, tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and, according to eyewitnesses, live ammunition. Stones and projectiles were hurled back, and an ambulance was set on fire.
By midday, the Kathmandu District Administration Office imposed a curfew from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM across sensitive zones including Parliament, the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, and Singha Durbar. The Nepal Army was deployed, and schools nationwide were shut for two days. Hospitals quickly overflowed, with the National Trauma Centre and Civil Hospital reporting critical shortages of beds and blood.
Among the injured was journalist Shyam Shrestha, hit by a rubber bullet while reporting.
Home Minister’s Resignation
Amid escalating violence, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned during a Nepali Congress meeting, calling the deaths “unimaginable” and morally indefensible. His resignation was formally submitted to Prime Minister Oli during an emergency cabinet session at Baluwatar.
Lekhak, who had resisted calls to step down during the airport immigration scam, had long been under pressure from opposition parties including the Maoist Centre and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). His resignation is widely seen as symbolic, but it has intensified calls for Oli himself to quit.
The RSP accused the government of mismanaging the crisis, while a high-level National Security Council meeting convened at the Prime Minister’s residence to chart next steps.
Spread of Violence: Beyond Kathmandu
By evening, protests expanded across the country:
- Pokhara (Gandaki Province): Clashes near government offices; curfew imposed.
- Biratnagar (Province 1): Violent youth marches dispersed with tear gas.
- Butwal & Bhairahawa (Lumbini Province): Stone-pelting near Oli’s residence in Damak prompted warning shots; Rupandehi district curfewed.
- Nepalgunj & Chitwan: Protesters stormed administrative offices; police deployed tear gas.
- Bharatpur (Bagmati Province): Skirmishes outside the metropolitan city office.
- Itahari (Province 1): Two deaths reported after police fired on demonstrators.
The Nepal Human Rights Commission condemned the excessive force, while the UN Nepal office urged restraint. India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) heightened vigilance along the border.
Meanwhile, unrelated communal tensions during Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebrations (Sept 5–7) in Janakpur, Kapilvastu, Bandipur, and Bardaha added further volatility, though not directly tied to the Gen Z protests.
Government Response and Implications
The Oli administration defended the ban as necessary, noting that compliant platforms like TikTok and Viber remain operational. Telecom authorities enforced the blocks, and shoot-at-sight orders were issued in select hotspots.
Critics argue the ban suppresses dissent and erodes digital freedoms. Economically, the unrest threatens Nepal’s fragile recovery, disrupting tourism, remittances, and the digital economy. Politically, it underscores instability in a nation that has seen 14 governments since 2008. Opposition calls for Oli’s resignation may fracture the ruling coalition.
Internationally, India, China, and the UN are closely monitoring developments, wary of regional instability.
The resignation of Home Minister Lekhak marks a pivotal moment in Nepal’s deepening crisis. What began as anger over a social media ban has morphed into a wider civil rights movement, rooted in frustration over corruption, unemployment, and authoritarian governance. With protests spreading nationwide, curfews imposed, and hospitals overwhelmed, the Oli government faces its most severe test yet.
Whether it responds with dialogue and reform, or doubles down on repression, will determine Nepal’s stability in the weeks ahead.
