The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday expressed deep anguish over the loss of 20 precious young lives during the Gen Z protests in Nepal. The party attributed the widespread anger to the growing grievances of the people, particularly the youth, against successive governments’ failures to resolve genuine problems and meet aspirations.
Highlighting corruption among ruling circles as a major cause behind the protests, the CPI(M) claimed that lack of job opportunities for the predominantly young population has contributed to the unrest, which erupted following the government’s decision to ban social media platforms.
In a Politbureau statement, the party emphasised the need to restore peace and normalcy with seriousness, particularly in light of mob violence directed against leading political functionaries. They condemned the killing of Rajyalakshmi Chitrakar, wife of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal. The CPI(M) urged that the grievances of Nepal’s youth be heard immediately and that effective steps be taken to address them.
The CPI(M) stressed the importance of safeguarding democratic and secular values enshrined in Nepal’s Constitution. They cautioned against the situation being exploited by royalists and other reactionary forces, emphasising that the outcome of these mass protests must be democratic renewal, not a relapse into feudal authoritarian rule.
The protests, dubbed “Gen Z protests,” began after the Nepal government banned several social media platforms, citing their failure to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. The ban was later lifted after widespread protests and violence resulted in 20 deaths and injuries to over 100 people. Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9, amid intense pressure from the protests.