Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma have jointly appealed for restraint, dialogue, and unity in addressing the crisis that has unfolded after the violent events of Bhadra 23 and 24 during the Gen-Z protests.

Tribute to Victims

In their joint appeal, the NC leaders expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of youths during the movement and extended condolences to the bereaved families. They wished the injured a speedy recovery, stressing the need for all sides to come together for peace and reconstruction.

Dialogue as the Only Way Forward

The leaders welcomed the initiative taken by the President to seek a political way out through talks and urged all parties—including security agencies, civil society, media, and the international community—to support the dialogue process. They also emphasized that any solution should be guided by the spirit of the Gen-Z generation while respecting the constitution and democratic values.

Condemnation of Violence and Arson

The statement strongly condemned the excessive use of force that led to the deaths of 19 people during the protests. They demanded a high-level probe to identify and punish those responsible. At the same time, they denounced the arson and destruction of national heritage sites and government institutions, including Singha Durbar, Sheetal Niwas, Parliament House, and the Supreme Court, saying such actions were infiltrations by vested groups and not representative of the Gen-Z movement.

Criticism of Prime Minister’s Delay

Thapa and Sharma held Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli responsible for delaying decisions on lifting the social media ban and resigning, which they said worsened the crisis. They noted that political leadership must be timely and sensitive to the aspirations of citizens, especially the youth.

Commitment to Reform

The two general secretaries admitted that political leadership, including the Nepali Congress, has failed to meet public expectations, allowing corruption and insecurity to grow. They pledged to reconstruct the party from the ground up, aligning it more closely with the aspirations of the new generation while safeguarding democratic achievements enshrined in the 2072 Constitution.

Call for Unity

The appeal urged all NC members, supporters, and Nepalis at home and abroad to stay calm, act wisely, and remain united during the crisis. “Restraint, dialogue and unity are indispensable to rise from the current unstable situation,” they said, calling on citizens to uphold Nepal’s tradition of social unity and harmony in the face of adversity.