Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has announced his resignation following large-scale protests that broke out in the country over the blocking of social media. This was reported by India Today and Reuters.
The situation in Kathmandu is still tense. The government’s head and cabinet members are being relocated from their homes by helicopters of the army after a series of vandalism and arson attacks targeting the homes of senior officials. The international airport of the capital has been closed down, and its grounds are occupied by more than 300 soldiers. The ministers are to be taken there for further evacuation in the near future. The army is also responsible for the security of the parliament.
As a reminder, more than 20 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X and Reddit, were banned by the government last week. The action initiated huge protests in Kathmandu and other urban centers of the country. In a report, 19 individuals were killed on 8 September alone in clashes.
Then the Nepalese government lifted the widely criticized ban, but it could not stop the tide of resentment. Accusation of corruption and allegations of misuse of authority by the government in its authoritarian measures intensified the protesters’ sentiments, ultimately leading to the resignation of the prime minister.
