Nepal Protests: Why Gen Z Has Turned Against PM Balen Shah Months After Bringing Him To Power?

Published 14 July 2026 · local

Nepal Protests: Why Gen Z Has Turned Against PM Balen Shah Months After Bringing Him To Power? Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 17:11

Nepal Protests: Why Gen Z Has Turned Against PM Balen Shah Months After Bringing Him To Power? Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 17:11 IST Nepali Congress lawmaker Basana Thapa questioned the government's response, saying Prime Minister Shah should "take off the dark glasses". Calls for Balen Shah's Resignation Grow as Nepal's Gen Z Returns to the Streets After 2025, Nepal is witnessing a fresh wave of youth-led protests, with many members of Gen Z taking to the streets against Prime Minister Balendra “Balen" Shah, the same leader they had strongly supported during the political movement that brought him to power. Large demonstrations broke out across the country over the weekend, with protesters and opposition leaders demanding Shah’s resignation. The unrest comes months after Gen Z protests contributed to the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government and helped pave the way for the Balen Shah-led administration. After the 2025 Gen Z movement ushered in promises of transparency and reform, many of its supporters now believe Prime Minister Balen Shah has fallen short of those commitments. What sparked the Nepal outrage? The immediate trigger for the protests was the death of 25-year-old ride-sharing driver Ganesh Nepali, who set himself on fire following a confrontation with Kathmandu Metropolitan Police over a motorcycle parking dispute.

According to reports, the incident occurred outside Kathmandu’s Department of Passports after municipal officers ordered him to move his motorcycle, wheel-locked the vehicle and called a tow truck following an argument. CCTV footage reportedly showed Ganesh siphoning petrol from his motorcycle before returning more than an hour later, pouring it over himself and setting himself ablaze as the tow truck arrived. Police and bystanders extinguished the fire and rushed him to Bir Hospital, where he died on Friday after suffering around 60 per cent burns. Plans to shift him to AIIMS New Delhi were abandoned after doctors found him medically unstable. According to The Kathmandu Post, Ganesh had become increasingly distressed by repeated fines and wheel-locking incidents while working as a ride-sharing driver. His family alleged that pressure from repeated penalties contributed to his distress. Protests spread beyond one incident Ganesh Nepali’s death quickly triggered demonstrations across Kathmandu, with hundreds, mostly young people, demanding justice and accountability. According to reports, ride-hailing drivers, residents from Ganesh’s home district of Mugu and Gen Z activists gathered at Maitighar Mandala before attempting to march towards Bir Hospital. Police stopped the procession at Bhadrakali. The Scientific Socialist Student Union also staged a protest. Demonstrators carried placards reading “Down with the fascist government", “Provide compensation to the victim’s family" and “Stop traffic terror".