KATHMANDU, Sept 9: Opposition parties, including the CPN (Maoist Center) and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, accusing his government of committing a massacre during Monday’s Gen Z protests in the capital and across the country.
They concluded that the government’s handling of the movement was “highly inappropriate,” insisting the Prime Minister step down to create a conducive political environment.
As part of its campaign “Maoist with the People, Mid-Hill Pushpalal Highway – National Awakening Drive,” top Maoist leaders, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior vice-chairs, vice-chairs, and the general secretary, had reached Gorkha on Monday. However, after learning about the escalation of protests in Kathmandu and reports of casualties, the leaders held an informal meeting, demanded the PM’s resignation, suspended their campaign, and returned to the capital the same day.
RSP ministers vacate quarters despite continued support for gov...
_20230226123652.jpg)
Similarly, the RSP also demanded Oli’s immediate resignation and early elections. In a statement, RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti called for the formation of an independent high-level judicial commission to investigate Monday’s incidents both in and outside the capital, and to take strict action against the Home Minister and those responsible.
“The RSP strongly condemns the government’s brutal suppression of Gen Z’s peaceful and democratic protests that arose out of rampant corruption, disregard for the rule of law, cruel political practices, and the shutdown of social media, which stripped citizens of freedom of expression,” the statement read.
It further accused the government of committing mass killings during the very first phase of the movement, warning that “the people will no longer tolerate attempts to prolong misrule by drenching the nation in the blood of their own children.” Burlakoti added that the government had “completely lost its legitimacy,” and argued that the federal parliament had failed to resolve national issues, making fresh elections essential.
Meanwhile, the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N), led by Upendra Yadav, demanded the immediate lifting of the social media ban and urged the government to hold talks with protesters to resolve the crisis. In a statement, JSP-N General Secretary Ram Kumar Sharma said long-standing poverty, unemployment, misgovernance, and corruption had fueled public anger, prompting young students to rise up. He urged the government to stop suppressing peaceful demonstrations.
“The JSP demands that the government immediately lift the ban on social media and resolve the crisis through dialogue with the agitating forces, instead of resorting to repression,” the statement read. The party also demanded free treatment for injured students.
Likewise, the Rastriya Mukti Party issued a statement condemning the government’s repressive response to the protests, holding the Prime Minister directly responsible for the escalation of the movement.
