NEW DELHI – India formally said it was “deeply concerned” about the rising turmoil and violence in Nepal, which has already claimed the lives of at least 19 people. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on everyone engaged to show restraint and talk things out peacefully in a statement.
The “Gen-Z protests” were sparked by the Nepalese government’s prohibition on 26 social media sites, such as Facebook, X, and YouTube. But the rallies spearheaded by young people swiftly grew into larger protests against nepotism and political corruption. On Monday, things got violent as fights with security personnel led to a lot of deaths and injuries.
The MEA said in a statement, “We are closely watching what is happening in Nepal since yesterday and are very sad that so many young people have died.” “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died.” We also hope that those who were hurt get better quickly.
India’s response comes at a time when security along the 1,751-kilometer-long India-Nepal border has been stepped up to stop any unrest from spreading. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India’s borders, is keeping a careful eye on the situation and is on high alert.
The protests, which caused Nepal’s Home Minister to step down, have been denounced by international organizations like the United Nations and several foreign embassies in Kathmandu. All of them have urged for open inquiries into the use of force by security officers. The Nepalese government has subsequently lifted the ban on social media, but demonstrators have promised to keep protesting until the police are held accountable.
India and Nepal have had deep diplomatic and cultural relations for a long time, and New Delhi cares a lot about the stability of the Himalayan country. The MEA’s statement makes it clear that India wants the crisis to be resolved quickly and peacefully.