Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari has resigned from his post on Tuesday, citing the government’s authoritarian response during Monday’s Gen Z protests, reports said.
Moreover, 21 Members of Parliament of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party led by Ravi Lamichhane announced their mass resignations on Tuesday. The party has supported the ongoing protest movement from the beginning and is now demanding the Expedition of Parliament and new elections.
Adhikari, a Nepali Congress (NC) leader aligned with Dr Shekhar Koirala faction, confirmed that he stepped down after Dr Koirala, currently on a visit to China, directed ministers from his faction to quit the government. “I have already made up my mind. The curfew has prevented me from reaching the ministry, but I am prepared to resign,” Adhikari said, according to a report.
In his resignation letter, Nepali Congress lawmaker Adhikari said that instead of recognising citizens’ natural right to question democracy and stage peaceful protests, the state responded with widespread suppression, killings, and use of force, moving the country towards authoritarianism rather than democracy, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav, who represents Janata Samajbadi Party, also resigned on Tuesday morning.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on Monday evening, submitting his resignation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli following the deadly Gen Z protests.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa called on Prime Minister Oli to take moral responsibility for the deaths of 19 protesters during the Gen Z demonstrations and to resign from his post, the report noted.
Thapa said, “Innocent youths have been killed unnecessarily. The prime minister must take responsibility for this suppression and step down immediately.”
He added that the Nepali Congress cannot remain a witness or partner in this situation even for a single day and said he will push for this decision in the party meeting.