Nepal Government Forms Probe Committee into Gen Z Protests, PM Oli Refuses to Lift Social Media Ban

KalimNews | Kathmandu | September 8, 2025 : The Nepal government has decided to form an investigation committee to probe Monday’s violent protests led by Gen Z demonstrators. A cabinet meeting of the Nepal governemnt held in the evening resolved to establish a panel tasked with submitting a report within fifteen days. The committee will investigate the incidents surrounding the protests that left scores dead and hundreds injured.

During the meeting, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli maintained a firm stance that the ban on social media platforms could not be lifted immediately. His position came despite pressure from coalition partners and the opposition. Earlier in the day, a meeting of office bearers and former office bearers of the Nepali Congress had urged the government to reopen the blocked social media platforms. Health and Population Minister Pradeep Paudel relayed the party’s decision to the Prime Minister, arguing that the government should address the protesters’ demands. He proposed that Nepal pursue diplomatic channels to bring the platforms under regulation but allow access in the meantime.

Oli, however, rejected the proposal, insisting that companies had openly refused to register in Nepal and that reopening the platforms without regulation would be unacceptable. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who later resigned from his post taking moral responsibility for the bloodshed, also proposed that the government lift the ban, but his suggestion was dismissed by the Prime Minister.

According to one minister present, Oli acknowledged the concerns but reiterated his refusal. Following the cabinet meeting, he also held direct talks with Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba at Baluwatar. In his briefing, Oli said the government had initially welcomed the peaceful mobilization of youth, describing it as a positive form of democratic expression. However, he claimed that “infiltration” had occurred within the demonstrations, which, in his words, even the Gen Z organizers had admitted. “Because of this infiltration, lives were lost,” the Prime Minister stated, while again affirming that the social media ban could not be lifted immediately.

In light of the ongoing unrest, Tribhuvan University and Purbanchal University have announced the postponement of scheduled examinations, while Kathmandu University has suspended classes for the day.

Tribhuvan University’s Examination Control Office confirmed that the four-year bachelor-level exams scheduled for September 9, 10, and 11 (24, 25, and 26 Bhadra) have been postponed. The rescheduled dates are set for October 18, 20, and 21 (2, 4, and 5 Ashoj).

Similarly, Purbanchal University has also postponed bachelor’s and master’s level exams that were to be held on September 9 and 10 (24 and 25 Bhadra). New dates will be announced later.