KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Youth leaders and influencers of the Gen Z movement, including Miraj Dhungana and Prabesh Dahal, have urged youngsters not to participate in the protest announced for October 9.
The protest is being organized to mark one month since the violent incident on September 8, during which major government buildings, including the Federal Parliament and Singha Durbar, were vandalized and set on fire, and scores of people died in clashes with police. Organizers of the October 9 demonstration have called for a peaceful gathering in Gundu, Bhaktapur — the current residence of former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, who is staying in a rented house after his residence was set ablaze by protestors.
In response, influencers like Miraj Dhungana and Prabesh Dahal, along with other young leaders, have warned against participating in any demonstration that could escalate into violence.
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Speaking via TikTok, Dhungana stated, “We will not be involved in any protest that lacks a clear agenda or has the potential to incite violence or vandalism on October 9. Gen Z will not participate.”
He claimed that the September 8 protest had already achieved more than its intended goals and delivered significant outcomes. “Without a clear purpose or direction, we will not join any protest. If needed, we are prepared to organize peaceful demonstrations, but we will not take part in anything that disrupts the peace already achieved,” he added.
According to Dhungana, the movement’s focus is on exerting pressure to fulfill necessary demands—but only through peaceful and well-planned approaches. He stressed that there is currently no specific reason to protest and stated that the Gen Z movement will automatically disassociate from any individual or group engaging in unnecessary violence.
Other young influencers have echoed similar sentiments. Prabesh Dahal, another prominent Gen Z figure, also called for restraint. “The protest is being organized in a specific area, and it seems politically motivated. We do not support such aggressive tactics. Instead, we must explore more effective ways to pressure the government to meet our demands,” Dahal said.
Several TikTok pages, including ‘Voice of United’ and ‘Gen Z,’ have promoted the October 9 protest, sharing images of former PM Oli and CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet. Oli, who was Prime Minister during the September 8 protest where 20 people were reportedly killed in police firing, resigned the following day.
