Nepali youths are angry, and their frustration is exploding online through the viral hashtag #NepoKid. On social media platforms, especially among Gen Z, videos and photos of politicians’ children flaunting luxury cars, branded clothes, expensive watches, and foreign trips have gone viral. The message is blunt: while ordinary Nepalis struggle with unemployment, soaring prices, and poor public services, the children of politicians live in comfort funded by their parents’ ill-gotten wealth and power. This anger has now spilled into the streets. Gen Z youths have announced a protest tomorrow at Maitighar, with slogans such as “Our Taxes, Their Luxury” and “We Pay, You Flex” gaining traction online. People are asking the same question: where is this money coming from? Many believe the answer lies in decades of corruption, misuse of state funds, and bribes pocketed by those in power. Social media users are not only exposing these leaders but also calling on young voters to be smarter during elections: “Don’t reward the same corrupt faces again and again.”
Revised interest rate corridor system introduced
But the issue goes deeper than the flashy lifestyles of politicians’ kids. For decades, leaders and ministers have treated the government as a money-minting machine. Big projects—from road contracts to hydropower—begin with under-the-table deals. Files in most government departments move only after bribes are paid, often by bureaucrats tied closely to politicians. Billions borrowed in foreign loans in the name of development vanish without results. Meanwhile, interest payments pile up, industries stall, and jobs remain scarce, forcing thousands of youths to migrate for work. Money meant for development and welfare ends up filling the pockets of leaders, bureaucrats, and their allies. Worse still, watchdog institutions that should hold them accountable—constitutional bodies, commissions, and state enterprises—are packed with loyal supporters, ensuring corruption goes unpunished.
Recent global events serve as warnings. Sri Lanka’s economic collapse was fueled by corruption and mismanagement. Bangladesh and Indonesia, too have faced mass unrest from leaders ignoring citizens’ needs. Nepal could face a similar fate if the current system does not change. The younger generation’s anger should not be underestimated. Gen Z, the most active online, is demanding answers. They see no justification for politicians’ children riding imported SUVs while their families struggle to pay school fees or secure stable jobs. Not every politician’s child is guilty, but the stark gap between the lifestyles of leaders and ordinary people is impossible to ignore. Nepali leaders must act. They need to end the culture of bribes and commissions, focus on genuine development, and restore fairness in governance. Citizens, especially the youth, are watching closely. If leaders continue to dismiss their voices, today’s frustration could snowball into a movement powerful enough to sweep away every corrupt figure standing in its way.
