KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday warned that Nepal is on the verge of a “counter-revolution” in the wake of the Gen-Z protests that swept across the country on September 8 and 9, urging political forces to act swiftly to safeguard democracy and national stability.
Inaugurating the party’s 10th Central Committee meeting at Rambagh Mahal in Lalitpur, Oli said the recent developments were “a sign of a dangerous political regression” that could push the country toward chaos if not addressed on time. The three-day meeting will discuss the evolving political situation, the party’s organizational strengthening, and its upcoming political strategies.
“The country has unexpectedly entered a phase of counter-revolution,” Oli told the gathering. “If we fail to respond in time, Nepal will be dragged toward destruction.”
Oli called for unity among all democratic and progressive forces to protect the political system and advance the country’s development goals. “We must immediately guide the nation toward a democratic, peaceful, corruption-free and development-oriented path,” he said.
Attacks against UML due to its ‘good policies’
The former prime minister claimed that the ongoing attacks on his party were not because of its failures but because of its strong nationalist positions. “We are being targeted not for wrong policies but for good ones,” he said. “UML is now under fire precisely because it stands for the right policies.”
Reiterating UML’s role as the “continuous leader of Nepal’s communist movement,” Oli said, “When we speak of the communist movement in Nepal, we are essentially speaking about UML. The party represents its true continuity.”
Labels Gen-Z protests a ‘planned spectacle’
Oli dismissed the Gen-Z protests of August 23 and 24 as a “staged drama” that was part of a global trend of orchestrated disruptions. He alleged that the violence was planned years in advance and aimed at destabilizing Nepal’s institutions.
“This was not a spontaneous uprising. Some of those involved had been talking for years about burning down Parliament and rejecting the political system,” Oli said.
He condemned the widespread vandalism during the protests, including attacks on police and public property. “Under the name of a movement, we saw police being attacked, their uniforms torn off, offices torched, and an officer killed,” he said. “It is unfortunate that no one intervened, not even the army, which simply watched the spectacle unfold.”
‘UML remains indispensable’
Oli rejected the notion that UML’s political relevance had diminished after leaving government, insisting that the party remains central to the nation’s progress. “The country still needs UML,” he said. “Just because we are out of government for now doesn’t mean we have disappeared.”
He cited several achievements made during his premiership, including the Transit Transport Agreement with China, the exploration of natural gas in Dailekh, and feasibility studies for an iron factory in Dhauwadi, Nawalparasi.
“These are projects of long-term national significance, and they will soon help Nepal move toward industrial production,” he said.
At the same time, Oli expressed dissatisfaction over internal rifts within UML, saying that “some within the party have been more interested in pulling others down than in advancing the party’s agenda.”
“Even when the government was performing well, some of our own tried to make it fail,” he said.
The UML’s central committee meeting will continue until Friday. Leaders are expected to deliberate on the party’s next political moves, organizational reforms, and the broader national context in what Oli described as a “critical moment to defend democracy from reactionary forces.”
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