Himal Press 
SURKHET: Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka has described the Gen Z movement as not merely a peaceful protest but one that involved a planned conspiracy.
Speaking at a press conference in his home district of Surkhet on Thursday, Khadka condemned attacks on public property, constitutional institutions and political leaders carried out in the name of the movement.
According to Khadka, the initial demands raised by the Gen Z protesters were legitimate and deserving of support. However, he recalled that the movement turned violent after the intrusions on September 9. “For the first time in Nepal’s history, within four hours, there were organized attacks on the judiciary, executive and legislature,” Khadka said. “This was not just ordinary dissent; it was a grand design.”
While the NC supported the early objectives of the Gen Z movement—ending corruption, lifting social media ban and promoting good governance, he said vandals later instigated violence and destruction. Khadka added that those attacking private or public property and engaging in looting must not be granted impunity.
“Trained groups were deployed to target constitutional bodies in the name of protest in a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country,” Khadka alleged.
Commenting on the ongoing demand for leadership transition within NC, Khadka claimed he was the first leader to raise this issue. “It is not the general secretary or anyone else who raised this. I have been speaking on this matter for a long time,” he said, adding that discussions and conclusions would be reached once the party president fully recovers.
Khadka acknowledged that events following the Gen Z movement have intensified debates on leadership succession and internal reforms within NC.
