One year after a youth-led uprising toppled the government, Nepal marked the anniversary amid stark division. Families of the deceased demanded criminal accountability, while activists warned that systemic corruption and economic stagnation remain virtually unaddressed.
Victims’ families voiced deep frustration over the lack of justice, emphasizing that those responsible for the killings of 19 youths—most of them students—must be prosecuted and their demands met. Speaking in Parliament, Rachana Khatiwada, mother of victim Rasik Khatiwada, asked the Prime Minister: “How many years will it take for the martyrs to get justice?” She expressed intense anger over Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s refusal to meet with the families and his absence from the function organized to mark GenZ Day on Sept 8.
Those injured in the protests and still undergoing treatment feel abandoned by the government. They say the state has failed to honor its agreements to provide free healthcare, employment for one family member, psychosocial counseling, free education, social security, immediate job placement, and meaningful memorialization.
Families of the deceased and injured have long complained that the government is ignoring their plight. They demand that those responsible for the deaths, including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, be prosecuted without delay. Although the government previously arrested Oli and Lekhak, the government attorney failed to collect sufficient evidence to file court charges. The families are now demanding the immediate implementation of the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led commission’s findings.
Opposition parties, primarily the CPN-UML and other communist factions, are demanding a thorough investigation into the destruction that occurred on Sept 9, insisting the culprits be held accountable. They criticize the Karki-led panel for focusing exclusively on Sept 8 while ignoring the events of Sept 9, a date both UML and other communist parties have branded a ‘black day’.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress, led by Gagan Kumar Thapa, occupies a middle ground—taking ownership of the GenZ movement while withholding support for Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Nepali society remains deeply fractured over how to view the events of Sept 8–9. While major political parties do not explicitly oppose the students’ protests or demands, they refuse to formally acknowledge the events as a “GenZ uprising.”
Questions also remain regarding progress on the primary demands raised by the youth: ending corruption and nepotism, reforming state institutions, and creating jobs. In line with the movement’s goals, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has made good governance his top priority, arguing that improving governance will naturally drive economic recovery. While public perception suggests federal-level corruption has decreased, local-level corruption remains rampant.
Similarly, while service delivery and governance show some signs of improvement, severe bottlenecks persist—particularly in passport distribution and administrative processes. Addressing these shortcomings, Prime Minister Shah posted a brief statement on Facebook: “Dear GenZ, good governance will be maintained. Tribute to the Martyrs.”
A central demand of the GenZ movement was the expansion of domestic economic opportunities. However, the economy has struggled since the uprising. Extensive damage to private enterprises and major hotel chains instilled fear across the business community. Sector leaders urged both the Sushila Karki-led interim administration and Prime Minister Shah to restore a business-friendly environment, but high-profile arrests of prominent businessmen under the new government further dampened market confidence. The destructive Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood on Aug 26 has only added to the government’s challenge of creating jobs and furthering Nepal’s economy..
