Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigns

Kathmandu: Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after days of violent unrest led by young demonstrators across the country. The protests, initially sparked by a government ban on social media, quickly escalated as agitators vandalised Parliament and attacked the homes of top leaders. Although the ban was later revoked, the protests continued.

Oli stepped down shortly after protesters stormed his office demanding his ouster. Officials said at least 19 people were killed in police action during Monday’s clashes.

In his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Paudel, Oli cited the “extraordinary circumstances” facing Nepal and said he was stepping aside to enable a “constitutional and political resolution” of the crisis.

Hours before Oli’s resignation, his residence in Balkot was set on fire. Protesters also targeted the homes of former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, and even the official residence of President Paudel. Lekhak’s private home in Naikap was torched just a day after his own resignation from office.

Authorities suspended flight services at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu indefinitely as tensions mounted.

The government late Monday revoked its ban on 26 social media sites, including Facebook and X, in an attempt to calm the protestors.

The unrest, driven largely by Gen Z activists, erupted after the government ordered a blanket ban on social media platforms that had not registered locally, an action critics saw as an attack on free expression.