Nepal has been rocked by widespread protests over the past week, driven by public frustration with government inefficiency, corruption, and stark economic inequality. The movement, predominantly led by the country's Gen Z population, escalated into nationwide unrest, resulting in at least 31 deaths and over 1,000 injuries from police crackdowns. Protesters targeted government buildings, politicians' homes, and even the Parliament, which was set ablaze, leaving the nation without a functioning government as the army imposed curfews and mediated talks.

At the core of the outrage is resentment toward the extravagant lifestyles of politicians' children, dubbed "nepo kids", who flaunt luxury items on social media amid widespread poverty, unemployment, and inflation. Viral posts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and X, under hashtags such as #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal and #NepoBabies, garnered millions of views. These highlighted opulent cars, designer clothes, and international vacations are juxtaposed against images of ordinary Nepalis facing floods, power outages, and rising food costs.

Specific individuals became symbols of elitism, including Shrinkhala Khatiwada, daughter of former Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada and an ex-Miss Nepal, whose home was torched amid backlash over her lavish travels. Others targeted include singer Shivana Shrestha, daughter-in-law of ex-Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba; Smita Dahal, granddaughter of former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal; and Saugat Thapa, son of Law Minister Bindu Kumar Thapa. Protesters decried these displays as evidence of a disconnected political class, with homes of several families vandalised or burnt.

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The crisis underscores Nepal's deep-seated issues, including its ranking among Asia's most corrupt nations per Transparency International, with scandals like the embezzlement of $71 million in the Pokhara International Airport project. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned after multiple terms, along with other ministers, leaving a leadership vacuum. President Ramchandra Paudel has called for restraint and is consulting on a path forward, emphasising constitutional order amid the army's increased role in maintaining peace.

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