Nepal PM steps down as 19 confirmed dead in anti-corruption protests

Tough-talking Nepali person Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli spent decades successful communist authorities and served arsenic premier curate 4 times earlier resigning Tuesday, aft deadly younker protests triggered by a prohibition connected societal media.

The 73-year-old discontinue soon aft aggravated protesters acceptable occurrence to his house, penning successful his resignation missive that helium hoped it would assistance “towards a governmental solution and solution of the problems”.

On Monday, aft astatine slightest 19 radical were killed successful a constabulary crackdown connected protests against his government’s prohibition connected unregistered societal media, entree to the apps was restored — but the demonstrations continued.

Protesters besides acceptable occurrence to parliament connected Tuesday, and Oli’s whereabouts were not instantly clear.

The often outspoken caput of the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), formed a authorities with the backing of the centre-left Nepali Congress successful 2024.

Oli, often known by his archetypal initials “KP”, cautiously crafted a cult-like representation arsenic his party’s ultimate leader, with life-size cutouts and banners of “KP Ba (father), we emotion you” seen astatine his rallies.

– Authoritarian streak –

Political writer Binu Subedi said helium had “transformed the party’s representation arsenic his own”.

But an authoritarian streak emerged.

Subedi said Oli had considered his connection arsenic “final”, and seldom accepted disapproval oregon suggestions, adjacent from his ain party.

Oli’s governmental vocation stretches astir six decades, a play that saw a decade-long civilian war, with Nepal abolishing its implicit monarchy successful 2008 to go a republic.

Drawn into underground communist authorities arsenic a teenager, helium was 21 erstwhile helium was arrested successful 1973 for campaigning to overthrow the king.

“I was sentenced to harsh imprisonment for 14 years, with 4 years of solitary confinement”, helium wrote successful a publication of selected speeches.

He studied and wrote poesy successful detention, penning his verses connected cigaret boxes erstwhile helium couldn’t entree paper.

“My transgression was that I fought against the autocratic regime,” Oli added.

“But this ne'er deterred me, instead, it emboldened maine to proceed the struggle.”

After his merchandise successful 1987, helium joined the CPN-UML and roseate done the ranks, winning elections to parliament.

The seasoned person was archetypal premier curate successful 2015, earlier being re-elected successful 2018 and reappointed concisely successful 2021 successful Nepal’s often turbulent parliament.

He antecedently said helium recognises that “Marxism and Leninism cannot beryllium a ready-made solution to each problem”.

In the Himalayan republic of immoderate 30 cardinal people, overshadowed by elephantine neighbours India and China, Oli antecedently trod a good equilibrium betwixt the rivals.

He was cordial to some but reached retired to Beijing to alteration Nepal’s dependence connected New Delhi, with promises of economical maturation helping him summation popularity.

Oli besides stoked populist rhetoric against India, which is often portrayed arsenic acting similar an overbearing “big brother” to Nepal.

AFP

The station Nepal PM steps down arsenic 19 confirmed dormant successful anti-corruption protests appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.