Nepal's Political Turmoil: Arrest of Former PM K P Sharma Oli Sparks Outrage

Political Backlash in Nepal Following Oli's Arrest

Kathmandu: The recent arrest of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has drawn sharp criticism from various political factions in Nepal. This action is linked to the government's crackdown on the Gen Z protests that occurred on September 8 and 9 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 76 individuals, including many young people.

Oli, along with former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, faces allegations of suppressing the protests. Mahesh Basnet, secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), labeled the arrest as an act of 'political revenge' and accused the Balendra Shah administration of bias.

In response to the arrest, the CPN (UML) convened an emergency meeting to strategize their next steps. Basnet shared on social media that the party is demanding the immediate release of Oli and is planning protests across all districts in Nepal.

The party intends to submit protest letters to Chief District Officers in all 77 districts on Sunday, aiming to initiate both political and legal actions against the arrest, in collaboration with civil society and the public.

Arjun Narsingha KC, a senior leader from the Nepali Congress, emphasized the need for a fair and transparent investigation into the events surrounding the protests, criticizing the previous inquiry as inadequate.

Former Science Minister Ganesh Shah echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the government's actions appeared rushed and lacked due process.

Kamal Thapa, a leader of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, also condemned the arrest, asserting that the government is pursuing a path of retribution and bias. He stressed the importance of unity and adherence to the rule of law for effective governance.

On Saturday, numerous UML supporters gathered in the Chabahil area of Kathmandu, demanding Oli's release. This unrest follows the first Cabinet meeting of the new government, which resolved to act on the findings of a high-level commission's investigation into the Gen Z protests.