Vandalism arson during Gen Z protests 'planned conspiracy' Ex-Nepal home minister

Kathmandu, Dec 29 (PTI) Nepal's former home minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday claimed that the vandalism and arson on the second day of the Gen Z protests was the result of "a planned conspiracy against democracy and the nation."
     On September 8 and 9, the youth-led Gen Z protest against corruption, nepotism, and a social media ban escalated into violence, leading to the ouster of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's coalition government.
     A total of 77 people, including 22 youths, were killed during the Gen Z movement.
     Lekhak, who appeared on Monday before a high-level probe commission investigating the Gen Z protests, said that he accepted full moral responsibility for the deaths and other losses of September 8.
     However, he claimed that the vandalism and arson on September 9 across the country were not a spontaneous escalation but the result of "a planned conspiracy against democracy and the nation."
     The Nepali Congress leader said he had stepped down immediately after the September 8 tragedy because, as the political head of the Home Ministry, he felt a deep personal and institutional responsibility.
     However, Lekhak drew a sharp distinction between the peaceful Gen Z protest of September 8—which, according to him, was later infiltrated and hijacked—and resulted in extensive arson and attacks the next day.
     “The violent incidents of September 9 were against national integrity, dignity and democracy. No patriotic Nepali could even imagine torching Singha Durbar secretariat, the Supreme Court, Parliament, and the President’s Office,” he said.
     It was "a planned conspiracy” and “a deliberate attack on the nation and democracy” he added.
     The inquiry commission, led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, summoned Lekhak, who was the home minister during the Gen Z-led protests.
     In his explanation, Lekhek claimed that as the then-home minister, he had convened a meeting of the Central Security Committee on September 7, where all security agencies agreed to maintain law and order by avoiding excessive use of force and casualties.
     "The Gen Z protesters' demands including anti-corruption, good governance and lifting the ban on social media sites were legitimate and widely accepted," he said.
     Lekhak said the September 9 destruction—including the burning of key state offices, private property, party buildings, police units and business establishments across the country—could not have resulted from “momentary anger.”
     Such synchronised attacks, he said, suggested preparation, planning and intent. “These were not spontaneous acts. These were organised assaults on the nation’s institutions.”
     Lekhak also advised the commission to closely investigate who infiltrated the protest, who planned the September 9 attacks, and who executed them. He added that while youth demands must be acknowledged, criminal acts must be treated separately and prosecuted.
     The former home minister also questioned the legal and moral rationale behind limiting his movement. Oli and Lekhak have been barred from leaving the Kathmandu Valley, as they might be required to appear before the commission.
     According to Bigyan Raj Sharma, spokesperson for the probe commission, Lekhak spent more than two hours in the office of the commission to submit his written statement.
     He was asked to appear on Wednesday again to continue the explanation regarding the incident, Sharma added.
     According to Sharma, the commission is preparing to send a letter to summon Oli to record his explanation regarding the incident.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)