Nepal observed a day of National Mourning on Wednesday, remembering the brave young lives lost during the recent Gen-Z protests. Each name on the growing list of the fallen stands as a painful testament to the arrogance and cruelty of the previous government. The blood of the youth who rose to challenge corruption and demand accountability cannot be ignored or forgotten. Their voices were silenced not by dialogue, but by bullets—by the negligence and excessive force unleashed under then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The tragedy is staggering: 18 lives were lost in Kathmandu, 2 in Sunsari, and 1 in Parsa on September 8 and 52 more perished, including 10 inmates and 15 burned alive in commercial and private houses on the following days. The protest did not spare law enforcers either—two police personnel in Maharajgunj and one in Koteshwor lost their lives. By Wednesday, the total death toll had reached 74, while hundreds more are receiving medical treatment in various medical facilities.
Non-violence rally against animal sacrifice
The fall of the Oli government and the formation of a new administration under Sushila Karki, along with the announcement of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, is a step forward—but the movement’s goals go far beyond mere change of government. True justice for the martyrs and the possibility of free and fair elections demand action: the new government must investigate the wealth of those holding public office including politicians, security officials and bureaucrats, probe the violent suppression during the movement, bring culprits to trial and punish those responsible for arson and looting. Only by fulfilling these responsibilities will a safe and conducive environment be established for the elections. The youth have spoken and the nation must listen. The new government must act with courage and urgency, addressing corruption not only in politics but within the bureaucracy, ensuring transparency and accountability at every level. Calls for disclosure of the property details of everyone who has held high office since 1990 are not mere rhetoric—they are a demand for justice, a demand that the dreams of the Gen-Z martyrs not be betrayed.
Prime Minister Karki, chosen by the Gen Z movement for her fearlessness, must now rise to the challenge. The trust of reformers and citizens alike rests in her hands. Through bold interventions, impartial investigations and reconstruction efforts, she can ensure that the upcoming elections are not just a procedural exercise, but a turning point for democracy and governance in Nepal. Her anti-corruption legacy as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court must now be reflected in Singha Durbar, in every act that restores faith in institutions and honors the sacrifices of the fallen. The road to justice and good governance is long, but it begins with accountability. Every corrupt official held responsible, every crime against the people addressed, will strengthen Nepal’s democratic foundation. Only then can the HoR election on March 5, 2026, be held in an environment worthy of the sacrifices made and only then will the nation truly honor the dreams of the Gen-Z youths.
