The Gen-Z movement led to the fall of the Ali government in Nepal. Bolen Shah came to power. But within a year, rebellion started again in neighboring countries. Young generation is behind it. They again took to the streets to protest the eviction of slums without rehabilitation. Boleyn’s resignation was demanded.
Bolen Shah’s government has launched an eviction drive in parts of Nepal, including Kathmandu, since April. The administration claims that around 2,600 slums have been demolished. About 15,000 people have been left homeless. They are being kept in holding centers. Meanwhile, on 2 July, the Government of Nepal ordered the evacuation of all holding centers by 6 July. However, at least 60 families refused to comply. They say they have nowhere else to go.
The fire had been burning for the past few days. The deceased have been identified as 20-year-old Arun Kumar and 18-year-old Arun Kumar. Things heated up on Friday. 150 people were detained in a holding center in Kathmandu. Security forces evacuated the area as flood water entered the area.
A section of Gen-G went to the spot to take stock of the situation on Saturday. The police allegedly beat them up. One protester was seriously injured. Soon the movement spread throughout Nepal.
Local media claimed that Bolen Shah’s government had already arrested several social workers, students and journalists for speaking out on the issue. A large number of youth protested in front of a government office in the capital on Sunday under the call of joint National Basti Morchar. Their handwritten posters read ‘Stop oppression of the poor’, ‘Protect human rights’, ‘Stop illegal arrests’, ‘Give shelter to the landless’.
Less than a year after Bollen Shah came to power last year on a wave of youth agitation, there is public anger against him. The 35-year-old leader was one of the architects of the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government.
He mobilized youth against social media bans, unemployment, corruption and economic crisis. He defeated Ali in the election and became the Prime Minister of Nepal. But now that public support has started to wane. Gen-G is his biggest challenge.