A two-day Gen Z protest in Nepal has shaken the country's politics and government, leading to widespread calls for a change of guard within all political parties. Even within Nepali Congress, a debate on leadership change has emerged while party president Sher Bahadur Deuba is undergoing treatment after being injured in the protests. However, Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat has called this a hasty move.
Recently, general convention representatives from the Gagan Thapa and Dr. Shekhar Koirala factions launched a signature campaign in Kathmandu, demanding a special general convention within three months. Mahat, however, stated that a detailed review of the party should only take place after Deuba's recovery.
Talking to 'Nepalkhabar', Mahat said that the Gen Z protests were a long time coming, fueled by a sense of unease among young people and the feeling that Nepal is lagging behind developed countries. He mentioned that social media has exposed youths to the developed world, prompting them to question why Nepal is not like those countries. Mahat acknowledged that all political parties, both in power and out, share the blame for this situation. He added that the movement, which began peacefully with a focus on good governance and anti-corruption, was later hijacked by anarchic elements seeking to exploit the chaos.
While General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, along with other Congress leaders, have been vocal about the need for leadership change, Mahat insisted that now is not the right time. He called the events of September 8, where many young people were injured, "mysterious" and claimed that even then Congress Home Minister was unaware of who fired the shots. Mahat argued that debating a leadership change while Deuba is injured is unethical. He said that once Deuba recovers and a central committee meeting is held, the party can evaluate the situation and decide on its future political course.
Mahat also defended Deuba's past contributions to Nepal's democratic movement, saying that questioning his leadership during a difficult time is inappropriate. He added that responsibility for the current public discontent should be shared collectively, not placed solely on one person. Mahat argued that the general secretaries, including Thapa and Sharma, who were part of the government and decision-making processes, must also take responsibility. He also criticized the "stubborn nature" of former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, stating that the Congress government was unable to exert sufficient pressure on him due to this.
Regarding the rumor that a large amount of money was found at Deuba's residence on the second day of the Gen Z protests, Mahat claimed it was a lie, stating that the party president's secretariat has already clarified that it was fake news spread on social media.
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