Nepal’s Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari resigned on Tuesday, condemning the government’s crackdown on the ‘Gen Z’ protests that left 19 people dead across Kathmandu and other parts of the country on Monday, according to local media reports.
Aligned with the Shekhar Koirala faction of the Nepali Congress, Adhikari cited the government’s authoritarian response as the reason for his resignation. His departure follows that of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who stepped down taking moral responsibility for the handling of the protests.
In his resignation letter, Adhikari stated, “Instead of recognising citizens’ natural right to question democracy and stage peaceful protests, the state responded with widespread suppression, killings, and use of force, moving the country towards authoritarianism rather than democracy.” He added that he could not remain in power without answers regarding the government’s violent actions against the youth.
Protests continued on Tuesday, with youths gathering spontaneously around the Parliament building in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu, despite curfew restrictions. Demonstrators carried no banners and voiced opposition to alleged government corruption. “Yesterday’s incident exposed the government’s failure. I came here to stand with the youths,” one protester told the Kathmandu Post.
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa also called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to take moral responsibility for the deaths and resign.
Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew across the Ring Road area of Kathmandu, reintroducing restrictions just hours after lifting a previous curfew. Lalitpur has also been placed under curfew, and roads near the Nepal Parliament and Kalanki were blocked by protesters.
The protests erupted after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Kathmandu and Itahari on Monday, resulting in at least 19 deaths and hundreds of injuries—the deadliest civilian crackdown in Nepal in recent years.
Prime Minister Oli, who lifted a social media ban imposed last week, blamed “infiltration by various vested interest groups” for Monday’s violence and announced plans to form a panel to investigate the protests. The government also promised financial relief for victims and free medical treatment for the injured.
A retired Nepal Army Colonel, Madhav Sundar Khadga, recounted the chaos, saying, “I called my son three times; he did not receive the call. After 4 pm, his phone was switched off. I came to the police but they hit me…I want the President to dissolve this Government.”
The protesters continue to demand Prime Minister Oli’s resignation, denouncing the government’s handling of the demonstrations and asserting that their movement will persist.
