Gen Z protesters hit Nepal streets again

Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah finds himself at the centre of a storm led by Gen Z. Large-scale protests erupted across the country over the weekend, with opposition leaders and demonstrators demanding the former Kathmandu mayor and rapper-turned-PM step down.

The unrest was triggered after a ride-sharing driver set himself on fire last week following a confrontation with traffic police over parking in Kathmandu. According to reports in the Nepali media, the man, later identified as Ganesh Nepali, succumbed to his injuries before he could be transferred to AIIMS New Delhi for specialized treatment.

His death ignited widespread protests in the capital, with hundreds, mostly young people, taking to the streets to demand justice. In Parliament, opposition lawmakers launched a scathing attack on the government, with one urging Shah to "take off" his "dark glasses" and face the people, while others openly called for his resignation.

This is not the first time the Balen Shah-led government has faced public protests. Last month, remarks by the Nepalese prime minister in Parliament suggesting that "...Nepal too has encroached upon Indian territories in many places," sparked demonstrations by student organizations and drew criticism from opposition lawmakers, who accused the government of making irresponsible statements on a sensitive foreign policy issue.