PM Karki Vows Justice After Nepal Protest Violence

Newly elected Prime Minister Karki pledged to reinstate order and deliver justice after the deadly demonstrations shook Nepal earlier this month, claiming at least 72 lives, including three policemen, 59 protesters, and 10 inmates, Chief Secretary Aryal said.

Karki termed the violence ‘criminal and planned’. "The level of arson and vandalism that has occurred is a criminal offence. This was done in an organized process. The people who have committed them must be brought to justice," she was quoted by news agency PTI to have said.

She explained that the violence witnessed during the September 9 protests was not by Gen-Z protestors. "The acts of vandalism and arson were pre-planned. The Gen-Z protesters were not engaged in such acts," she said.

Key highlights:

• Newly elected Prime Minister Karki vowed to restore order and deliver justice after protests on September 9 left at least 72 people dead, including police officers and inmates
• Karki condemned the violence as “criminal and pre-planned,” clarifying that Gen-Z protesters were not responsible for the acts of arson and vandalism
• To stabilize the government, Karki swiftly appointed key ministers, including the home and finance ministers, aiming to restore public trust and economic confidence

Karki, who took over as leader after former Prime Minister Oli resigned following increased public outrage, acted quickly to stabilize the government by appointing pivotal ministers, including the home and finance ministers.

“There was pressure to appoint someone as home and finance minister in order to restore normalcy, instill hope among various stakeholders, including the business community, and give the public a sense of relief. That is why she picked some of the best people with proven professional integrity,” one of Karki’s aides told The Kathmandu Post.

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With the nation stung by widespread violence and political instability, the firm posturing by Karki regarding law and order is attracting close scrutiny from both the citizenry and the global community.