Kathmandu: On the first anniversary of the Gen Z movement, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Communist Party Coordinator and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ have issued separate statements on the events of Bhadra 23 and 24. While both leaders paid tribute to those who lost their lives and stressed the need to identify those responsible and bring them to justice, they offered different interpretations of the nature and causes of the violence.
The CPN-UML has described the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24 as a serious attack on Nepal’s democracy, national economy and the fundamental pillars of the state.
According to the UML, the peaceful demonstration on Bhadra 23, which was organized with demands including unrestricted access to social media and good governance, was infiltrated by criminal groups that turned the protest into an anarchic and violent confrontation.
The party has alleged that even after organizers announced the suspension of the programme, infiltrators encouraged youths to attack the Parliament building while using them as human shields.
The UML expressed sorrow over the deaths of 19 young people due to the use of force by security personnel during crowd control. It also recalled that the government subsequently formed a judicial investigation commission, lifted the temporary restrictions on social media, decided to provide free treatment to the injured and compensation to victims’ families, while the then Home Minister resigned by taking moral responsibility.
The UML has described the arson and vandalism on Bhadra 24 targeting the Presidential Office, Prime Minister’s residence, Singha Durbar, Parliament building, Supreme Court, political party offices, monuments dedicated to martyrs and national figures, as well as public and private property, as a planned attack on democracy.
According to the UML, the Bhadra 24 tragedy was not merely an emotional reaction following the deaths of youths the previous day. The party has claimed that it was the manifestation of a dangerous plan aimed at reversing the progressive course of nationalism, democracy and the Constitution and pushing the country toward authoritarianism, anarchy and geopolitical conflict.
The UML has called for an in-depth investigation into how a protest that had received permission as a peaceful demonstration turned violent and who was responsible for the escalation.
The party has also alleged that attempts were made to arrest and prosecute the then Prime Minister and Home Minister through politically motivated and retaliatory actions by falsely blaming them for the incident. It further claimed that the factual account of the day and a report concerning the role of the security agencies have been kept confidential.
The UML has accused the authorities of granting impunity to those accused of involvement in the Bhadra 24 destruction and of halting investigations and prosecution processes initiated against them. It said such actions had institutionalized the criminalization of politics.
The party has also questioned why the security agencies were unable to prevent attacks on key state institutions and democratic symbols. It said questions regarding the professional capacity and integrity of the security agencies must be properly addressed.
The UML has maintained that violence and anarchy cannot be accepted as means of democratic change. It has called for an end to violence, an end to anarchy and an end to impunity.
The party has also stressed that there can be no alternative to the constitutional process for changing the government and that political problems must be resolved peacefully.
The UML has described the concerns, expectations and intentions of Gen Z youths as legitimate and positive, while maintaining that young people themselves were not responsible for the violence and destruction carried out in the name of the Gen Z uprising. According to the party, other elements benefited from the incidents, and the role of those beneficiaries has contributed to growing frustration among young people.
The UML has appealed to patriotic, democratic, progressive and left-wing forces and individuals to remain active in protecting democracy, the Constitution, national interests, national dignity and peace, and has called for cooperation among all concerned forces.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has described the destruction on Bhadra 24 as one of the darkest days in Nepal’s democratic history.
In a statement marking the first anniversary of the Gen Z movement, Prachanda paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the protests. He said the situation became more intense because the state chose repression instead of addressing the legitimate grievances of young people.
Prachanda said that instead of listening to the youth, the state opted for suppression, while infiltrators and suspicious elements took advantage of the situation and hijacked the movement. He alleged that these groups subsequently carried out arson, looting and attacks on historic institutions, including Singha Durbar, the Parliament building and the Supreme Court.
According to Prachanda, the continuation of looting and vandalism even after the Prime Minister had resigned indicates that organized groups were involved in the incidents. He has called for an independent and impartial investigation into the entire episode.
Prachanda has also urged the government to immediately implement the report prepared by the National Human Rights Commission rather than keeping it buried and has demanded that anyone found responsible be brought within the scope of the law.
He further accused the new government formed after the movement of attempting, in the name of constitutional amendment, to weaken the fundamental spirit of the Constitution, inclusion, the federal democratic republic and the achievements related to social justice.
Prachanda argued that the solution to the weaknesses of democracy is not to end democracy but to make it more accountable and transparent. He warned that his party would strongly oppose any attempt to alter the fundamental principles of the Constitution or open the door to authoritarianism.
He also claimed that citizens have once again become frustrated because of the current government, citing rising prices, a sluggish economy and the increasing compulsion among young people to leave the country.
Prachanda called on all forces committed to peace and democracy to unite against what he described as anti-people tendencies.
Although Oli and Prachanda have presented different interpretations of the causes and nature of the Bhadra 24 violence, both have emphasized the need to establish the truth, conduct a credible investigation and take legal action against those found responsible. They have also stressed the importance of protecting Nepal’s democratic and constitutional system and preventing similar incidents from occurring again.
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