KATHMANDU: A rift emerged on Tuesday between Gen-Z representatives and government officials during a round of talks at Baluwatar, participants said, prompting several Gen-Z delegates to leave the meeting and later voice fears for their safety and the integrity of the dialogue.
The dispute, which participants said unfolded during more than four hours of private discussion Prime Minister Sushila Karki granted to a Gen-Z delegation before the all-party talks, centred on the government’s alleged links with an NGO referred to as the Barbara Foundation.
According to those present, the NGO’s name triggered a heated exchange between Gen-Z representatives and both Prime Minister Karki and Communications Minister Jagdish Kharel, who strongly defended the foundation.
Gen-Z delegates told reporters that when the Barbara Foundation was raised, the prime minister reacted angrily and Minister Kharel became visibly agitated, launching into what they described as an emphatic briefing that the foundation was legitimate.
“As soon as we mentioned ‘Barbara NGO–INGO,’ the prime minister became upset. Minister Kharel heatedly briefed us, so forcefully that we were almost convinced the foundation was beyond reproach,” one injured Gen-Z representative said.
The briefing, Gen-Z delegates said, worsened the atmosphere and left them feeling the government was defending questionable ties rather than addressing their demands. They subsequently exited the private session and later objected to media reports that portrayed the group as having agreed to the March election timetable, a claim they said they did not accept.
Tensions also flared over Gen-Z calls for action against leaders alleged to be responsible for violence during the September 8 and 9 protests. Delegates said they were warned that moves to summon and act against former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak could endanger their own safety.
“When we raised accountability for the incidents of September 8 and 9, we were told we too could be at risk, even shot,” one representative said, adding that the government indicated any statements from Oli and the home minister would be sought only after the Tihar festival.
Gen-Z delegates said they also raised the possibility of a referendum and argued that elections should not proceed until the constitution is amended to reflect the movement’s demands. That proposition reportedly angered Prime Minister Karki, who questioned the group about Nepal’s tradition of welcoming dissent and pushed back against calls that could delay the ballot.
After leaving the meeting, several Gen-Z representatives told the media that the government’s quick defensiveness over the NGO and its reluctance to guarantee immediate protection or accountability had deepened mistrust.
Government sources, however, said the private session was intended as a frank exchange and that officials had sought to reassure Gen-Z delegates about institutional processes. Communications Minister Kharel had earlier defended the government’s readiness to hold elections and insisted ministers and security agencies were working to ensure safety and a credible vote.
Participants on both sides described the exchange as intense but said channels for further dialogue remain open. Gen-Z delegates demanded clear, evidence-based assurances on protection, a timetable for action on alleged perpetrators, and transparent handling of any NGO affiliations raised during talks.
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