Is Sushila Karki the New PM of Nepal? Gen Z Protest Victims Declared 'Martyrs'

Kathmandu, Sep 14 (NationPress) Sushila Karki has officially taken over as the interim Prime Minister of Nepal, marking her first day in office on Sunday. She has declared those who lost their lives during the Gen Z protests as 'martyrs' and announced a relief package of Rs 1 million for each victim's family, as reported by local media.

The former Chief Justice was sworn in on Friday by President Ramchandra Paudel, following mounting pressure from the Gen Z movement.

Karki began her tenure by paying her respects at the Martyrs' Memorial in Lainchaur on Sunday morning before heading to Singha Durbar. She initiated her official responsibilities from the building of the Home Ministry, as the Prime Minister's Office had been relocated there due to an arson attack that damaged the main complex.

Among her initial actions was to provide immediate aid to those affected by last week's violent protests.

Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal confirmed that the deceased protesters would be honored as martyrs, with their families receiving Rs 1 million each.

As reported by The Kathmandu Post, the government has also guaranteed free medical care for 134 injured protesters and 57 injured police officers.

Ministries have been instructed to compile detailed reports on the damages incurred during the protests, according to The Himalayan Times.

The protests, which escalated into significant unrest, have resulted in 72 fatalities to date, including 59 demonstrators, 10 inmates, and 3 police officers, as per local media accounts.

In the meantime, President Paudel addressed the nation on Saturday, calling for cooperation from all parties to ensure the successful conduct of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5 next year.

His comments came amid increasing criticism from major political parties following the midnight dissolution of the lower house on Friday, a move perceived as fulfilling one of the key demands of the Gen Z movement.

Protesters had asserted that the current parliament was entangled in corruption and incapable of real reform.

Acting on Karki's recommendation, the lower house was dissolved, marking the premature end of its term since its formation in 2022. Paudel characterized the dissolution as a challenging yet essential step to uphold the Constitution, the parliamentary framework, and Nepal’s federal democratic republic.

'A peaceful resolution has been reached in an extremely challenging and alarming situation,' he remarked, adding that it was an opportunity 'made possible through tactful intervention.'

Nevertheless, this decision has faced severe backlash from political factions. On Saturday, eight parties that were represented in the now-dissolved House released a joint statement denouncing the move as unconstitutional.

'This action contravenes Article 76 (7) of the Constitution, established precedents set by the Supreme Court, and constitutional customs. Such unconstitutional actions are unacceptable to us,' the statement asserted.