‘Taking Moral Responsibility’: Nepal HM Offers To Resign As Social Media Ban Protest Turns Deadly

Last Updated:September 08, 2025, 19:49 IST

Nepal’s HM Ramesh Lekhak offered to resign after deadly protests in Kathmandu over social media bans and corruption, with 19 killed and 347 injured amid escalating unrest.

By blocking the 26 social platforms, the KP Sharma Oli government in Nepal is narrowing the digital space where citizens can speak freely. (Getty Images)

Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak offered to resign following deadly protests that have rocked the country. Citing moral responsibility for the loss of lives during demonstrations, the minister announced his decision amid ongoing unrest.

The Home Minister has informed the party that he will not remain in the post. Lekhak remarked during a meeting of the office-bearers and former office-bearers held at President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence on Monday evening.

According to an official, he has said that he will not remain in the post, saying that there has been a huge loss of life and property.

“There was a huge loss of human lives in today’s protest. I have to take moral responsibility for that, and I will not sit in the post on moral grounds,” the official told OnlineKhabar, quoting home minister Lekhak.

This comes after Kathmandu on Monday saw massive protests by youngsters who demanded that the government lift its ban on social media platforms and end the culture of corruption pervading the country.

As many as 19 protesters have been killed, and 347 were injured. Police responded with water cannons, teargas, and rubber bullets, critically injuring one demonstrator, local media reported. Several motorcycles were also set ablaze, escalating tensions in the area.

The demonstrations intensified as the crowd pushed into a restricted zone near the parliament, with some protesters climbing over the compound wall. Clashes broke out soon after, leading to multiple injuries. Ranjana Nepal, an information officer at the nearby Civil Hospital, confirmed that their emergency ward was packed with people hurt during the unrest.

The district administration imposed a curfew in several key areas of the city, including the parliament, the president’s residence and Singha Durbar, which houses the prime minister’s office.

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