Nepal’s deposed leader Oli
Nepal’s deposed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday accused the current government of trying to arrest him “without sufficient ground” and claimed it was not serious about conducting the general election scheduled for March 5, 2026.During his first interaction with editors and senior journalists in Kathmandu since his ouster, Oli said his party, the CPN-UML, would seek reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives. He alleged that the government was attempting to arrest him “by hook or crook,” despite lacking sufficient grounds.Oli resigned in early September after violent protests by the youth-led Gen Z group against his government over corruption and a ban on social media. Former top judge Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister on September 12, and President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament on her recommendation. The next general election is scheduled for March 5, 2026.Referring to his removal from office, Oli said that after he was rescued by the Nepal Army from the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar following the attack by protesters, his mobile phone was seized for a few days. He also criticised the government for withdrawing some of his security personnel, saying it had failed to ensure a secure atmosphere for free and fair elections.The former prime minister claimed that during his tenure, “the law and order situation was better and the press was more secure,” adding that now “the media has become insecure and they have started self-censorship.” He accused the media of ignoring “the vandalism and arson done in the name of the Gen Z group that destroyed many important government buildings, including the Prime Minister’s Office at Singhdurbar, the Supreme Court, Parliament Building and the anti-graft body,” as quoted by PTI.Oli alleged that the violence during the Gen Z protests was caused by “infiltration of external elements,” though he did not specify who they were. The Gen Z protesters had demanded the arrest of then Prime Minister Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, holding them responsible for the excessive use of force during the agitation.Commenting on the “Nepo-kids” movement launched by Gen Z youths alongside their protests, Oli said, “I couldn’t accept the Nepo-babe campaign launched by the Gen Z youths, which created terror among the Nepalese people.” The campaign had targeted the children of influential leaders for their lavish lifestyles allegedly funded by corruption.Unlike other top leaders, including Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist Centre chair Pushpakamal Dahal “Prachanda,” who resigned from their party posts, Oli said he had no plans to step down as CPN-UML chair. “I may come back to power if people vote for me. The country and my party still need me, and I am still capable of contributing to the country and the society,” he said.After hiding in an army camp outside Kathmandu following his ouster, Oli stayed in Gundu, Bhaktapur district, for a few weeks before reappearing publicly during a central committee meeting of his party recently, reported PTI.
