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Nepal’s capital Kathmandu is currently burning in the fire of a huge and unprecedented public anger. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who reached the top of power just four months ago with the bumper and historical support of the country’s young population i.e. ‘Gen Z’, is now surrounded by the biggest political crisis of his tenure. The painful incident of 25-year-old Dalit youth Ganesh Nepali publicly immolating himself due to heavy debt pressure and the indifference of the police and the system has shocked the entire country. In view of this fierce influx of youth gathered on the streets of Kathmandu and the increasing ruckus, the Nepal government had to hastily postpone even the ongoing Parliament session. The opposition is now taking a jibe at PM Balen Shah’s signature look and demanding the removal of his ‘black glasses’.
Self-immolation against the system for snatching away livelihood: 60% burnt Ganesh dies in hospital
This heart-wrenching tragic incident occurred on July 10, 2026. Ganesh Nepali, a resident of ‘Mugu’, a very backward and marginal area of Nepal, used to feed his family by riding a bike for a ride-sharing app in Kathmandu. Traffic police clamped the wheels of his motorcycle and seized the vehicle for allegedly blocking the way outside the passport department in Kathmandu. The motorcycle was Ganesh’s only means of livelihood, which he had bought with a huge loan and the date of his next bank installment was very near. He had a heated argument and scuffle with the officers present there to free the vehicle. Ganesh, who was devastated by this harsh action of the police, under mental stress, took out petrol from his own bike, sprinkled it on himself and lit a matchstick. Ganesh, who suffered more than 60 percent burn injuries, was immediately admitted to a top hospital in Kathmandu, where he died after fighting for life for a day.
End of dreams and sting of poverty: Life stopped due to desire to go abroad
Ganesh and his elder brother Madan Nepali both come from the Dalit community. Despite Madan having a diploma degree in civil engineering, he is forced to work as a laborer due to Kathmandu’s indifference. His elderly parents are marginal farmers in Mugu village and depend on a meager government pension. Madan told that Ganesh had taken the bike on loan in the hope that by adding some money, he would be able to go to Gulf countries, Japan or South Korea and work with his brother and bring the family out of poverty. But after the police seized his means of livelihood, he found no way to repay the bank installments and support his pregnant wife, which forced him to take the suicidal step.
Balen Shah government came on backfoot: Home Minister himself handed over the citizenship certificate
After the death of Ganesh Nepali, the atmosphere in Kathmandu became completely out of control, which added fuel to the already ongoing anti-government movements. When Home Minister Sudhan Gurung accused the opposition of playing petty politics over this tragic death, public anger further flared up. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government immediately came on the back foot and started heavy damage control. The government has officially announced immediate government job for deceased Ganesh’s 20-year-old pregnant wife Ekmaya Pariyar (who is herself a diploma holder in IT) and the entire education expenses of their 2-year-old innocent daughter. Ekmaya did not have Nepal’s ‘citizenship certificate’, which Home Minister Gurung personally handed over to her at her home so that she could get government financial relief. Along with this, a 5-member special team has been formed under the leadership of a DIG level officer for a high-level investigation of this entire incident and the government is also considering giving “martyr” status to Ganesh.
Not just one death, gunpowder was boiling against these three decisions of the government
According to political analysts, Ganesh’s death was just a momentary spark; in fact, ammunition had been gathering for a long time among the people of Nepal and ‘Gen Z’ voters against some dictatorial decisions of the government. Three main steps of PM Balen Shah have angered the public the most:
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Dissolving trade unions and student organizations: The government banned major organizations that raised the voice of youth and workers.
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Ordinance Raj: Adopted a policy of passing ordinances directly, completely bypassing democratic debate and Parliament.
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Anti-Encroachment Campaign (Demolition Drive): Due to the brutal bulldozer action conducted in Kathmandu in April 2026, thousands of poor and street vendors became homeless overnight.
When Ganesh was cremated on the ghat of the famous Pashupatinath temple on Monday, his tearful parents from Mugu along with hundreds of families of victims made homeless by the demolition drive gathered there. At present, the government is continuously calling the protesters to the negotiating table to pacify them and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister has made an emotional appeal to more than 50,000 contractual employees to end the strike and return to work, assuring them of job security.