[Concept paper presented by General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Mashal), Com. Mohan Bikram Singh, at an interactive program on “Nepal's Current Political Situation and the Gen Z Movement” organized by the Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front) in Kathmandu on November 22, 2025]

1. Nepal’s immediate political situation was already in crisis. On the one hand, there was a threat posed by the organized campaign of monarchists against the great achievements of the people’s movement, such as republicanism and secularism. On the other hand, the intervention and encroachment of imperialist powers posed serious threats to the country's nationality and sovereignty. The country was already on the verge of a crisis, and the Gen Z movement intensified it many times over.

In this situation, we had the responsibility to correctly assess the conditions and, on one side, protect the great achievements of the people’s movement— including the republic and the nation’s sovereignty— and on the other, raise the people’s movement to a higher level to address the just and progressive problems affecting people’s lives. The Gen Z movement made this situation even more complex and serious. Therefore, it has become our responsibility to correctly evaluate the situation and guide the country’s politics and movements in the right direction. Now we have no other option: either we steer the country forward in the correct direction, or it is inevitable that the nation including the republic and national sovereignty will move toward complete destruction.

2. The protests of September 8 and 9 must be evaluated from two different angles. The first day’s protest was against corruption and the ban on social media. Therefore, it was both justified and necessary. However, the brutal massacre committed against the youth of the Gen Z movement that day cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The then Prime Minister Oli has claimed that neither he nor his government was responsible for the shootings, stating that the bullets recovered did not match those used by the police. We accept that in many countries, infiltrators have carried out such conspiratorial acts during mass movements. However, Oli has not yet provided any evidence to support his claim. If such evidence emerges in the future, it would, of course, require serious consideration. But in the absence of any official information, it is not appropriate to accept his statements at face value. Therefore, the Oli government cannot be absolved of responsibility for the shootings. We emphasize the need for a high-level, impartial investigation and for action against the perpetrators. Naturally, if it is later proven that infiltrators were responsible, they too must face consequences.

The protest of September 9, however, was completely different in nature from the movement of September 8. Several serious political facts emerge from this. First, the movement on September 8 was not led by the Gen Z activists; rather, events indicate that external infiltrators had taken full control. Considering the day’s events, there is no doubt that infiltrators directed the activities.

Acts of vandalism, arson, and destruction occurred throughout the country. Important government institutions such as Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court were set on fire, and around 450 police stations were vandalized. Various government offices and courts in different districts were attacked, and several offices of political parties were destroyed. Among them were offices of the National People’s Front in Butwal, Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi, and Surkhet. Offices of other parties were also burned or vandalized.

Several top leaders faced physical attacks, including an attempt to burn the wife of one senior leader. Many business establishments were vandalized, looted, or set on fire. The Gen Z movement had no such policy or program. Therefore, it is clear that they were not responsible for these actions.

4. This raises an important question: Who was responsible for the destructive acts on September 9? It is clear that these actions were neither sudden nor spontaneous. It is impossible for such widespread destruction to erupt across the country within a few hours without long preparation. Only a thorough and far-reaching investigation can reveal the truth.

Will the government be able to punish those responsible? If not, similar incidents will continue to recur in the future, causing long-term harm. The public must pay serious attention to this issue.

Another serious question arises: Why did neither the police nor, importantly, the army take action to stop the arson, vandalism, and violence that day? Once the army was mobilized, such acts stopped from September 10. Had the army acted earlier, Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court could have been saved on the 9th.

Many documents of historical and national importance were destroyed in the Singha Durbar fire. Likewise, files of the Supreme Court and various district courts— including records of serious criminal cases— were burned. This suggests that the burning of these buildings may have been planned to destroy documents related to certain criminals or imprisoned individuals. It is clear that the Gen Z activists had no involvement in such acts.

In this situation, the necessity of conducting a thorough investigation and punishing the guilty becomes even more urgent.

5. Generally, the Gen Z movement appears to be a spontaneous uprising of new youth. But that is only one aspect. Behind the movement, many harmful elements were working in a well-planned manner. The most significant among them was American imperialism. It has been acting systematically under the Indo-Pacific Strategy— a strategy designed to encircle China in the region. To advance this plan, the MCC was also pushed forward, and Nepal was included in it.

America publicly accepts that Tibet is part of China. Yet, restoring the Dalai Lama in Tibet remains one of its strategic objectives. To achieve this aim, military action in Tibet would be necessary, and for that, the United States would require Nepal to become a battlefield. For such an objective, Washington needs a government in Nepal fully aligned with American interests.

Although previous Nepali governments adopted pro-American policies by passing the MCC, they simultaneously maintained friendly relations with China. Therefore, the United States seeks to remove the older governments and establish one that operates entirely under American direction. The so-called “independent party” was created for this purpose, and now there are attempts to use the Gen Z movement toward the same goal. Thus, the current Gen Z movement is essentially a movement influenced and guided by the United States.

Several concrete pieces of evidence confirm this. First, the Dalai Lama extended his best wishes to the current interim government— something he had never done for any previous government. Second, some individuals openly supporting the “Free Tibet” movement have claimed they led the Gen Z protests themselves. Third, during the movement, certain groups wearing “TOB” badges were visibly active. Fourth, thousands of Nepali youths affiliated with programs run by the US Embassy were also active in the movement.

Taken together, these facts make it clear that the Gen Z movement is primarily driven by American imperialism. The United States has orchestrated similar youth movements in many countries, and the same trend is now visible in Nepal.

6. Although the United States plays the principal role in the Gen Z movement in Nepal, other domestic and foreign forces have also attempted to use it for their own interests— including Indian imperialism, Nepalese royalists, and several political parties. Anti-social and criminal elements also infiltrated the movement on a large scale.

Since the period of Vallabhbhai Patel, India has followed a policy aimed at integrating Nepal into India, and the current Modi government continues this approach. By promoting Nepalese royalists, India aims to transform Nepal into a Hindu nation. The connection between India’s hardline Hindu forces and the present royalist movement in Nepal becomes clear from former King Gyanendra’s meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath at Gorakhpur, his increased activism afterward, and the public display of Adityanath’s photo at his reception programs of the former King Gyanendra when he came Kathmandu from Pokhara.

There is no doubt that India’s hardline Hindu ruling class and Nepal’s monarchists stand together in opposition to Nepal’s republicanism and secularism. Their open and covert alliance poses a serious threat not only to republicanism and secularism but also to the nationalism of Nepal.

Several examples also show that other political forces in Nepal— either openly or covertly— have joined the Gen Z movement to gain political benefit from it.

7. The Gen Zs have played a long and proud role in Nepal’s political history. Gen Zs are generally understood to be youth between the ages of 13 and 28, though historically the term was not used. It essentially refers to young people or students.

In Nepal, youth have made major contributions to the movements against the autocratic Rana regime, the Panchayat dictatorship, the monarchy, and various forms of regression that appeared at different times, as well as against foreign interference and encroachment. Many of Nepal’s top leaders in both leftist and democratic movements joined political parties during their Gen Z years and endured imprisonment and underground life throughout their political journeys. Most of Nepal’s martyrs also sacrificed their lives during that age.

The future of Nepal ultimately depends on the Gen Z's. But they can play such a positive role only when they are guided by a sound philosophy, principles, policies, programs, and a sense of service to the nation and its people. To develop these qualities, youth must go through long experiences and tests. Only then can it be determined how sincere, firm, and reliable they are in upholding their principles and serving the country.

It is difficult to judge a person’s capability to lead the nation based on their behavior over a day or two, a few months, a year, or even a decade. Age alone determines nothing. Millions of young people have also engaged in anti-social, criminal, or corrupt activities. The experience of the current youth movement has shown that no one is capable of leading a major political movement or the nation merely because they are young. Due to the absence of clear principles, policies, programs, and organizational discipline, unhealthy elements infiltrated the movement on a massive scale— and the youth leading it failed to prevent such infiltration.

8. During the Gen Z movement, millions of youth poured into the streets. However, they were an unorganized force made up of dozens of different groups. Now, some of those groups have begun to emerge more clearly, and various differences of opinion are becoming visible among them. But it is difficult to say that there was any single unified group during the movement itself. At that time, they were unable to give any coherent direction to the movement, and it is equally clear that an unorganized crowd will never be able to guide any political movement correctly in the future. No such example exists anywhere in the world, and it will not be possible in Nepal either. In such a situation, only chaos can result.

The interim government now formed in the country is being called a “government of the Gen Z's.” Yet even among the Gen Zs, there is no consensus about this. Some claim this government as theirs, while others oppose it. The government also appears to be heavily influenced by people associated with various NGOs and INGOs connected to imperialist interests. In addition, individuals linked to American or Tibetan circles seem to have openly played roles in nominating the Prime Minister and various ministers, or in manipulating these decisions.

From a political standpoint, it is still unclear who exactly these “Gen Z's” are. They also talk about forming different political parties, but they lack clarity regarding the policies, programs, or leadership of such parties. In fact, their ideas appear confused, and they seem to be following the slogans of various political forces.

Needless to say, this situation can only lead to further political instability, confusion, and potential anarchy in the country. In other countries where Gen Z-type movements have occurred, the outcome has not been political stability but rather confusion and disorder. In this context, we must seriously consider whether Nepal too is heading toward such instability, confusion, and anarchy. Are domestic or foreign powers attempting to turn Nepal into a failed state for their own interests? It has become a national necessity for all conscious and enlightened groups to pay attention to these questions, for the answers will determine the future of the country.

9. After the Gen Z movement and the formation of the interim government, the most significant step taken by that government was the dissolution of the House of Representatives. It goes without saying that the House of Representatives— the parliament— is the heart of the multi-party system, and reactionary forces, mainly royalists, have always opposed it. It is therefore surprising that the parliament became the first casualty of the Gen Z movement.

This raises an important question: Did those operating the Gen Z movement from behind the scenes have close ties with the judiciary? And did they emphasize dissolving the parliament to fulfill the wishes of the court?

With the dissolution of parliament, two developments have emerged. First, there are demands for the restoration of the dissolved House. Second, preparations are underway for new parliamentary elections. First of all, the dissolution itself is unconstitutional, and the demand for restoration cannot be considered wrong under any circumstance. Since the case is now in the Supreme Court, if the Court restores parliament, such a decision should be welcomed.

At the same time, even if new elections are held, it would not be right to boycott them. Ultimately, the fundamental problems of the people cannot be solved through the parliamentary system; for that, a new democratic revolution followed by socialism will be necessary. But that is a long-term process. Despite the shortcomings of parliamentary democracy, it is still a progressive system compared with any autocratic or dictatorial system.

Especially now— when reactionary forces are campaigning to abolish the multi-party system and even the republic itself to restore the monarchy— protecting the republic and the multi-party system is an immediate national necessity. Therefore, whether the dissolved parliament is restored or new elections are held, safeguarding and utilizing the multi-party system is clearly the correct policy for the time being.

10. Several important questions have also arisen in the context of elections. Some parties are emphasizing the election of a directly-elected chief executive and are threatening to oppose the elections if such a provision is not included. Although this idea is coming to the fore again in the context of the Gen Z movement, it is an old slogan raised by certain parties since the drafting of the constitution.

In a country like Nepal, where democratic practice is limited, a directly-elected chief executive could push the country toward dictatorship. Such a system centered on one individual would also make it easier for imperialist powers to advance their interests in Nepal. Therefore, the proposal for a directly-elected chief executive is not in Nepal’s interest in any way and must be firmly rejected.

In the election context, the demand to repeal and rewrite the constitution has also been raised strongly. Some parties have even placed this as a precondition for participating in elections. Monarchists, regionalists, and racist have opposed the current constitution from the beginning and continue to insist on its repeal. Some leftist forces also oppose it— but from a revolutionary perspective.

The current constitution is certainly not universally accepted. The federal structure it introduced has increased unnecessary financial burdens, slowed development, and fostered fragmentation and ethnic hostility. Therefore, continuous initiatives are needed to repeal federalism. However, republicanism, secularism, and fundamental rights are important and positive features of the constitution. Reactionary and regionalist forces have opposed these features from the start and thus still insist on repealing or rewriting the constitution.

The constitution is a highly significant and historic achievement of Nepal’s democratic movement. The Nepali people struggled for it for nearly six decades, and it was formed only after two Constituent Assembly elections. Revoking it would devalue the long struggle and sacrifices of the people. Thus, calls to revoke the constitution must be firmly rejected.

If a new democratic or socialist revolution were to occur in Nepal, then the current constitution would indeed need to be replaced with a new one. But such a situation has not arisen, and achieving it will require a long struggle.

11. In today’s world, the political activities or movements of any country are not purely national; they are greatly influenced, manipulated, or infiltrated by international powers. The current politics of our own country is no exception. It is well known that foreign powers have infiltrated not only our political sphere but also administration, security institutions, and other sectors. The Gen Z movement has also emerged as a part of this broader strategy.

The large-scale destructive activities carried out during the movement suggest the involvement of imperialist agencies— especially the CIA and RAW— working with the intent of pushing Nepal toward becoming a failed state. Moreover, given the current geopolitical situation in South and Southeast Asia, particularly amid the growing contradictions and conflicts between the United States and China, Nepal holds significant strategic importance. In such a context, it is certain that various imperialist countries will operate in a planned manner to use Nepal to serve their own interests.

It would not be irrelevant to say that Nepal has increasingly become a playground for competing imperialist powers. Imperialism does not operate solely in military or economic forms—it also seeks to establish dominance by influencing religion, culture, education, literature, psychology, and other fields, thereby attempting to shape the Nepali people in favor of its strategic interests. Such activities are being carried out openly and covertly on a large scale in our country. Numerous examples of these imperialist networks have come to light through various incidents occurring in Nepal.

Therefore, when examining political developments within our country, including the Gen Z movement, we must try to view and understand them through an international lens.

12. Conflicts or wars in various parts of the world inevitably affect our country in one way or another. Today, tensions and warfare are intensifying in many regions, increasing the danger that they may escalate into a third world war. If such a war breaks out in the present era, it will not remain confined mainly to Europe, as the first, second, and third world wars did; instead, it is likely to spread across the entire globe.

There is also a strong possibility that such a conflict would take the form of a nuclear war— and a nuclear war would mean the destruction of the entire human race. The world today faces this alarming and explosive threat. The main source of this dangerous situation is imperialism. Therefore, activities carried out by imperialist forces in any country must be understood within the global context of imperialist strategy and actions.

The major issues facing the world today are, on the one hand, the looming danger of war and, on the other, the struggle to defend world peace. These global questions are directly connected to our country and our lives. Hence, we must take the responsibility of opposing war and protecting peace seriously. It is our international duty to raise our voices and contribute, as much as possible, to the struggle against war and in favor of global peace.