Constitution Day and National Day: Gen‑Z protests reflect youth aspirations and governance gaps, says PM Karki

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki said the Gen‑Z demonstrations on September 8 and 9 reflected youth aspirations, rising public awareness and widespread dissatisfaction with corruption.

Speaking at the Constitution Day and National Day ceremony at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu today, she said the movement had partly arisen from shortcomings in governance, unfulfilled expectations and deprivation.

The prime minister described the protests as a measure of democratic health and blamed failures to uphold democratic values and institutions for fuelling unrest, citing civil liberties, press freedom, an independent judiciary and the rule of law.

She said advances in information technology and international examples of citizen‑friendly governance had heightened young people’s expectations.

PM Karki said the issues raised — employment, quality of life, transparency, legal equality, corruption control and development — were national concerns and that her government was committed to addressing them.

The prime minister acknowledged the need to rebuild public infrastructure damaged during the movement and to help businesses recover, and she urged citizens, political parties, the private sector and development partners to join a national reconstruction drive.

She reiterated the interim government’s responsibility to manage the transition and to hold the House of Representatives election on March 5 in a fair, impartial and fear‑free environment.

On Constitution Day, she paid tribute to martyrs of past movements and the recent Gen‑Z protests, extended condolences to bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The ceremony was attended by President Ramchandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, former prime minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and other senior officials.

(With inputs from RSS)