New Delhi: Sushila Karki or Kulman Ghising? The Gen Z protesters have to pick one name from these two, to temporarily lead the troubled nation. While some reports claimed that Karki, Nepal’s first women Supreme Court Chief Justice, is likely to be the interim Prime Minister of the country that was rocked by a massive Gen Z-led protests this week, some claimed that Kulman Ghising, an electrical engineer, could lead the expected interim government.
Divide in protesters over interim PM
According to local media reports, agreement to appoint Karki as interim Prime Minister has reached, but dissent persists over the agenda of Parliament dissolution. However, a Gen Z protest faction in a statement have proposed Kulman Ghising as the interim Prime Minister. They pointed out that the former Chief Justice could not hold the top post as the Constitution does not allow retired judges from holding positions other than in the judiciary. Karki, 73, was the first woman to be appointed Nepal’s chief justice in 2016 and is now retired.
Some media reports from Kathmandu claimed that the protesters picked Karki, who is also an anti-corruption activist, to lead the troubled nation. “We see Sushila Karki for who she truly is – honest, fearless, and unshaken. She is the right choice. When truth speaks, it sounds like Karki,” Sujit Kumar Jha, one of the protesters, told Reuters.
The protesters also demanded that parliament be dissolved, two days after deadly protests brought the Himalayan country to it knees and forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
A youth leader, Junal Gadal said that country needs a person who has a good understanding about law and other legal aspects. “In my opinion, I would propose Sushila Karki as the best option, to be the guardian of the nation,” he told reporters.
Nepal protests
Nepal witnessed massive protest for two days this week after thousands of youth hit the streets against the government, forcing the government to revoke the ban on social media sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp and Prime Minister to resign. The protest initially began over the ban on social media sites but later escalated over corruption and nepotism. The protesters vandalised and set ablaze residences of Prime Minister and several other ministers. The agitators also attacked some ministers and even set on fire the house of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, leading to the death of his wife Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar.
The widespread protests claimed lives of 34 people and left more than 1,300 injured, Nepal’s health ministry said. Security has been beefed up across the country with soldiers patrolling the deserted streets of Kathmandu. Shops, schools and colleges remained shut while some essential services in the city have resumed.