Nepal Gen Z protesters burnt PMO and secretariat: Where will the interim govt work from?

As Nepal’s Singha Durbar, the palatial complex that housed the Prime Minister’s Office and the Secretariat, has been burnt to ashes, alternatives arrangements are being made for the functioning of the government.

Mobs attacked the Singha Durbar on Tuesday and set it on fire. It was among several government buildings burnt in Kathmandu, such as the parliament, Supreme Court, and private homes of top politicians and business leaders. Photographs from the rampage showed mobs going around with rifles and blades.

Amid preparations to appoint an interim leader to replace caretaker prime minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali media have reported that the new prime minister would be allotted working space at a new building inside Singha Durbar.

Moreover, reports said that Singha Durbar is also being cleaned and readied for usage — at least the parts of the complex that are intact or salvageable.

The new building that would house the new prime minister was originally built as the home ministry building.

President Ram Chandra Paudel was scheduled to meetings with former Chief Minister Sushila Karki and Hami Nepal leader Sudan Gurung today.

While Karki has emerged as the frontrunner to be Nepal’s new interim leader, Gurung gave the call for youth-led protests that shook the country on Monday.

The Nepali media have reported that there is all-party consensus about Karki despite previous reports of disagreements, but no final decision has been reached over differences about the parliament’s fate and some constitutional issues that need to be addressed. For one, the Constitution of Nepal bars a judge from holding political office and that’s why Karki’s appointment —despite widespread support— would be unconstitutional.

Moreover, Karki and various youth groups have called for the dissolution of the parliament whereas Paudel is wary of such a move as it could worsen the political crisis.