‘A Planned Moment’: Ousted PM Oli Says 'Gen Z' Protests That Shook Nepal Were Not Spontaneous

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 20:14 IST

Oli’s comments come as he faces scrutiny over the state’s response to the youth-led uprising that toppled his government last year.

Members of ousted Nepali prime minister KP Sharma Oli's political party voted for him to retain leadership of the organisation on December 18, meaning he will oversee its preparations for national elections next year. (IMAGE: AFP)

Nepal’s former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has said last year’s Gen Z-led protests that toppled his government were not spontaneous, claiming they were the result of long-term preparation, as the country continues to deal with the political fallout of the deadly unrest.

The comments come a week after Oli gave a statement to a government commission investigating the crackdown on the protests.

Speaking in an interview with RT India, Oli said the September uprising followed a broader regional pattern, pointing to unrest in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in recent years. Asked whether Nepal was seeing a similar trajectory, he argued the developments were not coincidental.

“People were talking from the very beginning," Oli said, claiming that references to unrest in neighbouring countries had circulated widely in Nepal even before protests broke out.

He described the movement as “a planned moment" rather than a purely organic uprising driven by youth anger, suggesting such ideas were being amplified globally through news and other material.

When asked whether intelligence agencies had provided advance warnings, Oli said formal inputs were not required. “Sri Lanka was loudly telling us, Bangladesh was telling us," he said, adding that the threat had been visible for years. He also acknowledged the government’s failure to respond effectively, saying the situation went “out of our capacity".

Oli Faces Probe

Oli’s remarks come as he remains under scrutiny over the state’s response to the protests. Earlier this month, he gave a statement to a government commission probing the crackdown, according to Agence France-Presse.

While Oli had earlier questioned the commission’s constitutional basis, AFP reported that officials recorded his statement at his residence after issuing a summon. Authorities have imposed travel restrictions on Oli and several other former top officials as the inquiry continues.

Nepal’s Gen Z Protests

The protests erupted in September after a brief government ban on social media, but quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations led by young protesters under the loose “Gen Z" banner.

Anger over economic stagnation, corruption and entrenched political elites fuelled the movement. Violence intensified rapidly, with parliament and government offices set ablaze on the second day, leading to the government’s collapse.

At least 76 people were killed during the unrest, according to AFP.

Oli resigned shortly after protesters set fire to his house and other buildings. An interim administration led by former chief justice Sushila Karki took charge, and Nepal is scheduled to hold elections on March 5, 2026.

News world ‘A Planned Moment’: Ousted PM Oli Says 'Gen Z' Protests That Shook Nepal Were Not Spontaneous

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