Nepal: Kathmandu airport opens; protestors want Sushila Karki as PM

Nepal Army Chief urges protestors to halt agitation, begin talks

Nepal Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel in a televised address to the country late on Tuesday night, urged the protestors to halt the agitation to find a peaceful solution to the issue through discussion.

"We appeal to the protesting group to halt protest programmes and come forward for dialogue for a peaceful way out for the nation. We need to normalise the present difficult situation and protect our historical and national heritage and public as well as private property, and to ensure safety to the general public and diplomatic missions," said Sigdel as quoted by NDTV.

"Since the beginning of Nepal's history, the Nepal Army has always remained committed - even in difficult circumstances - to safeguarding Nepal's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, national unity and the security of the Nepali people," he added.

Emergency Cell set up in Andhra Bhavan to assist Telugu people stranded in Nepal

The Andhra Pradesh government has set up an Emergency Cell at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi to assist Telugu-speaking citizens stranded in Nepal.

Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Commissioner Arja Srikanth said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and officials of Andhra Bhavan to extend all possible support.

"In view of the ongoing unrest in Nepal, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has set up an Emergency Cell at AP Bhavan, New Delhi, to provide immediate support and ensure the safety of Telugu citizens currently stranded in Nepal," said Srikanth in a press release issued late on Tuesday.

Kannadigas stranded in Nepal are safe: Karnataka CMO

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office on Wednesday said people from the state who are stranded in Nepal are safe.

“Kannadigas stranded in Nepal are safe. The Chief Secretary of the State Government and the Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi are in touch with the Kannadigas who are in various teams,” the Chief Minister’s office said in a statement.

Officials of the state government have been in touch with the External Affairs Ministry, and steps are being taken to bring back the Kannadigas safely, as directed by CM Siddaramaiah, it said.

Nepal Army imposes nationwide restrictive orders, curfew to curb possible violence

The Nepal Army on Wednesday imposed nationwide restrictive orders from morning till 5 pm, followed by a curfew until 6 am the next day, to curb any possible violence under the guise of protest.

In a statement, the Army warned that any form of demonstration, vandalism, arson, or attacks targeting individuals and property during this period would be treated as criminal activity and dealt with accordingly.

The restrictive orders are in effect throughout the country from morning to 5 pm, and then a curfew will be in place until 6 am on Tuesday, it said.

The Army said the measures were necessitated to curb possible incidents of looting, arson, and other destructive activities under the guise of agitation.

"There are also possible threats of rape and violent attacks against individuals," the statement said.

"Keeping in view the security situation of the country, restrictive orders and a curfew have been enforced," it said.

The statement clarified that vehicles and personnel engaged in essential services, including ambulances, fire engines, health workers, and security forces, would be permitted to operate during the restrictive orders and curfew.

Normalcy gradually returns to Nepal as army takes control of security

Army troops fanned out across Kathmandu and other cities from early Wednesday morning, enforcing restrictive orders and restoring calm, a day after violent anti-government protests swept across Nepal, triggering the resignation of K P Sharma Oli as Prime Minister.

The Nepali Army, which assumed command of nationwide security operations at 10 pm on Tuesday, imposed restrictions in several areas across the country, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur cities, to contain the unrest that continued even hours after Oli stepped down.

In a statement, the army expressed concern over the actions of certain groups, which are "taking undue advantage of the difficult situation" and causing “severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property.” "We have deployed our troops to prevent any untoward incidents, including looting and vandalism,” said an officer from the Nepal Army headquarters.

Authorities have also issued orders for residents to remain indoors unless "absolutely necessary", in a bid to prevent further unrest, he said.

Since early morning, the normally bustling streets of Kathmandu wore a deserted look. Only a few residents ventured out, primarily to stock up on daily essentials.

Roads were heavily patrolled by security personnel and fire trucks were seen responding to blazes in government and private buildings that were set on fire by agitators on Tuesday.

Protesters on Tuesday set fire to the Parliament, the President's Office, the PM's residence, government buildings, political parties' offices and homes of senior leaders.

Prime Minister Oli quit shortly after hundreds of agitators entered his office demanding his resignation for the death of at least 19 people in police action during Monday's protests by Gen Z over corruption and a government ban on social media. The ban on social media was lifted Monday night. 

Opinion: Nepal faces unprecedented crisis; can stability return before further damage?

Almost no one expected the seemingly spontaneous and fierce uprising that ousted Nepal’s fledgling republican government of KP Sharma Oli en masse along with the nation’s president Ram Chandra Poudel. But there it was; in a matter of hours, Nepal was left with a huge power vacuum.

The trigger for the popular upsurge was the ban on social media sites in a country where at least half the population — mostly youngsters, or the Gen Z — is glued to it. It was building up over the past few months with stories of how the children of the ruling elite — derisively labelled “Nepo Kids” — were splurging in exotic foreign locales and posting their adventures on social media.

Read opinion piece by KS Dakshina Murthy here

Trade lifeline under strain as Nepal’s crisis threatens ties with India

A sweeping political crisis in Nepal has upended daily life and threatens to disrupt the country’s most vital economic artery: its trade with India. The bilateral flow stood at more than $8 billion last year and represents a lifeline for everything from petroleum to food supplies.

Read the full story here

Opinion: Nepal uprising bears uncanny likeness to Hasina's ouster; is deep state involved?

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli walking into a Nepali Army helicopter on Tuesday (September 9) afternoon after his resignation easily reminds one of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing her country on August 5 last year after being ousted from power.

The similarity does not end with the way the two leaders fled after their ouster. In Hasina's case, it became clear soon enough that she was headed for India. Oli's destination is not clear yet. The helicopter he boarded can surely bring him to China or India, but as of now, his destination is not known. Much would depend on the Nepal army – if they decide to shelter him in a safe base within the country, they could. Hasina had to leave the country because Army Chief General Waker-u-Zaman was not willing to do that.

Read opinion piece by Subir Bhaumik here.

Trips on hold, Nepali students in India live in uncertainty

Nepali students in India say they have put their plans to travel home on hold and call up their families repeatedly, fearful of their safety amid the violent protests rattling the Himalayan nation.

Nepali students in India are living in anxiety.

A master's student at Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) said he had cancelled his plans to travel home, which is near Kathmandu, for the Dussehra festival.

"I was looking forward to being with my family, but they have advised me to stay back in Delhi until the situation there stabilises," he said.

Manoj Chaudhary from Nepal's Birgunj, pursuing MBA at IIT-Dhanbad, said the situation in his hometown was calmer compared to the capital. Still, he has suspended his plans to visit home.

"I was planning to visit Nepal soon, but now all my plans are on hold. My family is safe, but I am worried about Kathmandu, where buildings have been set on fire and students have lost their lives. That should never have happened. I only hope peace returns quickly," he said.

Another Delhi University student said her immediate parents and siblings live with her in Delhi, but her grandparents and extended relatives are in Nepal.

"I am deeply worried about them. Every day we hear news of protests turning violent, and it is painful not knowing how safe they are," she said.

A first-year DU student said the reports of deaths and destruction had shaken him. "I never thought students would be killed for raising their voice. It feels like the country is being torn apart." "I used to ask friends here to visit Nepal for its beauty, but now I feel sad about what is happening," he said, adding that he calls his family every few hours to check on their safety.

A PhD scholar at the South Asian University, who earlier studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the unrest had left her disturbed even though her family lives in a rural area, which is relatively safe.

"When your country suffers, you feel helpless sitting far away. The violence was tragic, but I hope the protests open the way for something positive," she said.

Another DU student said he had deferred his trip home indefinitely.

"I was supposed to see my parents later this month, but I can't take that risk now. All I do is wait for messages from family and friends, hoping they are safe," he said.

India advised its citizens to defer travelling to Nepal until the condition stabilises.

Nepal unrest leaves markets along UP border deserted

As unrest continues in Nepal, Uttar Pradesh's border districts saw empty markets, with residents grappling with cancelled travel plans and severed family contacts across the frontier and many expressing concern over the disruption of their daily lives.

In Bahraich's Rupaidiha town, which usually bustles with Nepali shoppers, markets have fallen silent.

"Normally, our markets thrive because Nepali buyers come here for daily needs. But now, the markets are silent. Families on both sides are interlinked by marriages, so the unrest has left people here worried," said Dr Uma Shankar Vaishya, chairman of the local nagar panchayat.

Locals said the temporary social media ban in Nepal had even cut off communication with relatives across the border. The restoration of WhatsApp and Facebook brought some relief, but anxiety persists.

"People are very angry after the deaths during protests in Kathmandu. Schools are closed, markets shut, and demonstrations are intense in Nepalgunj too. The situation is tense, and Indian vehicles are not being allowed in," said Vikas Gupta, a trader from Nepalgunj, in a WhatsApp message.

In Maharajganj's Sonauli, bus operators and travel agents complained of severe losses as the border closure drove away tourists.

"Earlier, buses filled within 10 minutes, now it takes over an hour. If this goes on, we may have to run empty," a conductor at the local depot said. Travel operator Sandeep Jaiswal added that dozens of clients had cancelled Nepal tours, forcing agencies to divert them to destinations like Ayodhya and Varanasi.

In Gorakhpur and Maharajganj too, residents said tourism and medical travel have collapsed. Many families who regularly visit Nepal for eye treatment or leisure trips have cancelled plans, hurting hotels and tour operators.

The situation was similar in Lakhimpur Kheri, where markets in the Gaurifanta border area wore a deserted look due to thin arrivals from Nepal. Locals said they had avoided visiting Dhangarhi town across the border amid violent protests there.

In contrast, residents in Pilibhit described conditions as largely peaceful.

"Several of our relatives have been living in Mahendranagar and Dhangarhi for years. They run permanent businesses there and even hold Nepali citizenship. They are all safe and report that business is going on normally," said Subhash Dewal, a resident of Khakra mohalla.

While the scale of the impact varied, locals across districts said the unrest had upended their routine connections with Nepal, with fears that prolonged disruption could cause long-term damage to trade and livelihoods on both sides of the border.

The student-led "Gen Z" protests in Nepal that began against a government ban on social media expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the KP Sharma Oli dispensation and the country's political elite over alleged corruption and apathy towards the common people.

Prime Minister Oli resigned in the face of massive protests for a second day, even as the ban on social media was lifted late on Monday night. The demonstrators stormed many government buildings and set the parliament as well as homes of several high-profile leaders ablaze, a day after 19 people died in violence. PTI