Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen Shah, who rose to power on the back of a Gen Z-driven political movement, now finds himself at the centre of a storm led by the very generation. Large-scale protests erupted across the country over the weekend, with opposition leaders and demonstrators demanding the former Kathmandu mayor and rapper-turned-PM to step down.
The unrest was triggered after a ride-sharing driver set himself on fire on Thursday following a confrontation with traffic police over parking in Kathmandu. According to reports in the Nepali media, the man, later identified as Ganesh Nepali, succumbed to his injuries on Friday before he could be transferred to AIIMS New Delhi for specialised treatment.
His death ignited widespread protests in the capital, with hundreds, mostly young people, taking to the streets to demand justice. In Parliament, opposition lawmakers launched a scathing attack on the government, with one urging Shah to “take off” his “dark glasses” and face the people, while others openly called for his resignation.
What Happened to Ganesh Nepali?
Ganesh Nepali died on Friday at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital after setting himself on fire outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwar following a prolonged confrontation with Kathmandu Metropolitan Police over his motorcycle being parked in a no-parking zone.
According to a report in the Nepal-based daily, The Himalayan Times, the dispute began when municipal officers ordered Ganesh Nepali to move his motorcycle before wheel-locking it and calling a tow truck after a heated argument. Ganesh Nepali argued the officers had no authority to lock a vehicle while its rider was still seated on it. CCTV footage later showed him syphoning petrol from his motorcycle before returning more than an hour later, dousing himself in fuel and setting himself ablaze as the tow truck arrived.
The Kathmandu Post reported that Ganesh Nepali had become increasingly distressed by repeated fines and wheel-locking incidents while working as a ride-sharing driver. A week before the incident, he had messaged relatives saying officers had fined him Rs 1,000 after locking his motorcycle. His family said he blamed metropolitan authorities before his death.
Protests Erupt in Kathmandu
Ganesh Nepali’s death triggered protests across Kathmandu on Friday, with demonstrators demanding justice and accountability from the Balen Shah government. According to The Kathmandu Post, protesters, including ride-hailing drivers, residents from Ganesh Nepali’s home district of Mugu, and members of the Gen Z movement gathered at Maitighar Mandala before attempting to march to Bir Hospital. Police stopped the procession at Bhadrakali.
The Scientific Socialist Student Union also staged a separate protest at Maitighar. Protesters carried placards reading, “Down with the fascist government”, “Provide compensation to the victim’s family,” and “Stop traffic terror”, reported The Kathmandu Post.
According to The Himalayan Times, the demonstrations were largely led by “young people”, who argued that the tragedy was not an isolated incident but the result of “systemic failures”. Protesters cited chaotic municipal parking enforcement, excessive and punitive fines, and the lack of welfare or legal protections for ride-sharing drivers as factors that pushed Nepali to the brink.
Opposition Lawmakers Attack Government
The outrage quickly spilled into Parliament. According to a report by BBC Nepali, opposition lawmakers accused the government of failing to prevent the tragedy and mishandling the aftermath during a meeting of the House of Representatives on Friday.
Nepali Congress MP Basana Thapa said, “Even when a youth set himself on fire due to state terror, the state remained a mute spectator,” questioning why authorities failed to rush an ambulance and instead “dragged him away like a criminal.” She also took direct aim at Prime Minister Balen Shah, saying, “Now is the time to take off the dark glasses.”
In the National Assembly, Nepali Communist Party lawmaker Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma demanded Shah’s resignation, saying, “If there is morality, the Balen government should resign and come out on the streets immediately.”
Government Response
Following Ganesh Nepali’s death, federal authorities have launched criminal and administrative investigations. Home Minister Sudan Gurung announced the formation of a high-level five-member probe committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the self-immolation while speaking before the House of Representatives on Saturday.
Gurung also informed that three personnel of the Kathmandu municipal police have been taken into custody by the police for further investigation. The Himalayan Times further reported that Gurung shifted the blame for the tragedy on the Kathmandu Municipal and local provincial authorities, reminding the House that the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) does not lead the local government in Kathmandu.
Neither Prime Minister Balen Shah nor his office has publicly commented on the protests that rocked Kathmandu over the weekend.
