KATHMANDU, NEPAL — The huge protests in Nepal, which have killed at least 19 people, are about more than just the government’s ban on social media. Former Foreign Minister N.P. Saud said that the real cause of the turmoil is the high unemployment and institutionalized corruption that have made young people in the country feel disillusioned and powerless.
Mr. Saud told NDTV in an exclusive interview that a judicial solution is now urgently needed to resolve the protesters’ complaints. He talked on how the government’s choice to restrict dozens of social media apps, like Facebook, YouTube, and X, has had a direct effect on many people’s life, impacting their “education and employment.” The youth are quite angry about this and have come to the streets to show their discontent.
Saud added, “Shutting down unregistered social media sites has hurt a lot of people’s jobs and education.” “This has hurt a lot of people, and they are very angry.”
He went on to say that the protests happened because the government “has not been properly tackled” and “has not been receptive to people.”
Saud said, “If the government worked right, this wouldn’t have happened.” He also said he was worried that things were “getting complicated.” He told the authorities to pay attention to young people and come up with a solution.
On Monday, thousands of young people, many of them were “Gen Z,” took to the streets of Kathmandu. Some videos showed them pushing over barbed wire and making riot police back down. The mob ringed the Parliament building, waving the national flag and chanting things like “Stop the ban on social media, not corruption.” Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons, which reportedly killed at least 19 people.
When asked if the administration was talking to the protesters, Saud stated that the cabinet and the security council were meeting. He did say, though, that the government had not made a “formal proposal” to the protesters and that members of parliament and political parties were telling the government to talk to the protesters and find a solution.