Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal plunged into chaos on Monday after protesters stormed and set fire to the nation’s parliament building, hours after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tendered his resignation in the face of mounting anti-corruption demonstrations.
Eyewitnesses in Kathmandu reported scenes of destruction as flames engulfed parts of the parliamentary complex, with windows shattered and thick smoke rising from the chambers. Crowds of mostly young demonstrators were seen dancing and chanting around makeshift bonfires, venting their fury at what they described as entrenched political corruption and the rise of so-called “nepo kids” – the privileged children of political elites accused of dominating state institutions.
The unrest marks the latest escalation in a wave of nationwide protests that have gripped Nepal for weeks, reflecting growing public anger over graft, political nepotism, and the lack of accountability among the ruling class.
Prime Minister Oli’s resignation, announced earlier in the day, has deepened uncertainty over Nepal’s political future. With no clear succession plan in place, analysts warn that a dangerous power vacuum could emerge, further destabilising the fragile Himalayan nation.
“The resignation was expected, but the scale of the public backlash has caught the government off guard,” a political commentator in Kathmandu told local media. “The priority now is to restore order and prevent the crisis from spiraling into widespread violence.”
Security forces have been deployed in central Kathmandu and other urban centres, but their ability to contain the unrest remains in doubt as protests continue to swell.
International observers have expressed concern about the developments, with calls for calm and restraint from both demonstrators and security agencies. Nepal, still recovering from the economic toll of the pandemic and years of political instability, now faces an uncertain path forward.
For many citizens, however, the protests represent a turning point. “We are tired of corruption and lies,” one young protester shouted as flames rose behind him. “This is about our future.”
As night fell in Kathmandu, the smouldering ruins of Nepal’s parliament stood as a stark symbol of a nation at a crossroads — one where the next steps remain dangerously unclear.
Source – My News Ghana
