Thousands of students took to the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday, joining opposition parties in demanding the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over remarks they say undermined Nepal's sovereignty in relations with India. The protests mark the most significant public mobilisation against the government since Oli took office last year.
Students Flood Kathmandu Streets
Demonstrators gathered at Maitighar, a landmark in the capital, before marching toward Singha Durbar, the seat of government. Police deployed water cannons as crowds swelled past 5,000, witnesses said. Chants of "Resign, resign" echoed through the afternoon as organisers called for a nationwide shutdown the following day.
The protest was coordinated by the Nepal Student Union, affiliated with the main opposition Nepali Congress, together with several leftist groups. Leaders from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and janamat party also joined the march, creating an unusual alliance across ideological lines.
What Triggered the Outrage
The immediate spark was a statement attributed to Oli during a cabinet meeting last week, in which he reportedly suggested Nepal should adopt a "balanced approach" toward India and China without prioritising either neighbour. Opposition leaders said the remark signalled a retreat from Nepal's established foreign policy stance of strategic neutrality.
Critics point to a disputed border agreement signed earlier this year, which opposition parties claim gave India access to a border checkpoint near Susta without proper parliamentary approval. The prime minister's office has denied any secret deal was reached.
The Susta Dispute Explained
The Susta area, spanning roughly 370 hectares in the Nawalparasi district, has been a point of contention for decades. Local residents say Indian security forces have gradually encroached on the territory, erecting structures that locals say violate a 1960 boundary understanding. Kathmandu has filed diplomatic notes but no resolution has been reached.
"Our land is being taken inch by inch, and the prime minister talks about balance," said Prakash Sharma, a resident of Khori village near Susta, who travelled to Kathmandu to join the protests.
Opposition Unites Against Government
The protest succeeded in uniting parties that rarely see eye to eye. Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of Nepali Congress, addressed the crowd, accusing Oli of "selling national interest" for domestic political survival. "This government has failed on every front. Now they are compromising our sovereignty," Deuba told reporters at the demonstration site.
Former prime minister and senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal also attended, though his party leadership instructed rank-and-file members to stay away. The split within the ruling coalition signals growing fractures ahead of local elections scheduled for next spring.
Government Defends Its Position
The prime minister's press secretary issued a statement calling the protests "politically motivated" and denying any deviation from Nepal's constitutional commitment to neutrality. "PM Oli remains committed to safeguarding every inch of national territory. These allegations are baseless and designed to destabilise a functioning government," the statement read.
Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba travelled to New Delhi last month for bilateral talks, but no joint statement addressed the Susta controversy. Indian officials have declined to comment publicly on the border dispute, referring questions to the Nepalese side.
Economic Fears Compound Political Tensions
Beyond the diplomatic controversy, ordinary citizens expressed frustration with rising fuel prices and a slowing economy. Nepal imports nearly 70 percent of its petroleum products from India, making any diplomatic tension with New Delhi a domestic economic concern. Diesel prices have risen 18 percent since January, squeezing transport operators and farmers across the Tarai plains.
"We need stable relations with both neighbours to keep prices manageable. This political theatre hurts us more than it hurts Delhi," said Ramesh Chaudhary, a transport union leader in Birgunj, the country's main trade hub.
What Comes Next
Protest organisers have called for a general strike on Friday, with student unions threatening to block major highways connecting Kathmandu to the Indian border. The government has warned against "anarchic activities" but has not announced any crackdown plans.
Parliament is scheduled to reconvene next week, where opposition parties plan to file a no-confidence motion. Analysts say the motion is unlikely to pass given the coalition's majority, but it will test loyalties within the ruling bloc. The coming days will determine whether the protests escalate or lose momentum as the opposition seeks to keep pressure on without appearing anti-Indian in a country where public sentiment toward Delhi remains complex.
