Gen-Z Movement Leaders Warn Against Accepting Elections Without Addressing Demands

Kathmandu. Leaders of the joint Gen-Z movement have warned that while they are not against elections, they will not accept elections held without addressing their demands. At a press conference held at the Dialogue Forum in the capital on Saturday, the leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in implementing the 6-point agreement reached with the government.

Ajay Sodari, co-coordinator of the joint Gen-Z movement, stated that despite reaching a 6-point agreement with the government after he sat on a hunger strike for 11 days, the agreement has not been implemented. "I am restless, keeping the 6-point agreement made between me and the government under my pillow. Should we carry the burden of this agreement and count the days until an anti-Gen-Z election?" Sodari questioned.

Accusing the government of failing to implement its commitment to fulfill the demands within 10 days, he said, "76 of our friends sacrificed for the country. Many were injured and disabled while putting their lives at stake. I have moved from a hospital bed to a room bed." He added, "We are ready to go to the prison cell again, but we are committed to our demands."

Movement commander Sunil Singh stated that while they are not against elections, they will not accept elections held without addressing the demands of Gen-Z. "We are not against elections. But elections held without addressing issues like action against the murderers of Gen-Z, the system of a directly elected executive prime minister, and action against the corrupt will not be acceptable," Singh said.

He claimed that others are engaging in anarchic activities to disrupt the elections and attempts are being made to blame them. "It is unacceptable that anti-change elements burn flags, vandalize property, and then try to put us in jail," he said.

Hinting at Balen Shah, Singh accused that a conspiracy is underway to destabilize the country by making a rapper a candidate for prime minister and stated that they would strongly oppose it.

Dinesh Subedi, coordinator of the Nepal Independent Citizen Network, claimed that elections held under the current status quo will lead the country further into turmoil.

Activist Dr. Jagat Bik stated that elections held in the current format would be against the spirit of the Gen-Z movement. He deemed Balen Shah's move to contest for the prime ministership after resigning from the mayoral post as wrong.

Gen-Z advisor Lenin Bista opined that the government should be formed through an all-party consensus, fulfill the demands of Gen-Z, and only then proceed to elections. He claimed that most individuals in the government formed by 'hijacking' the Gen-Z movement are candidates from the RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party).

Gen-Z Prakash Bam stated that proceeding to elections without making the investigation committee's report public would grant impunity to the Gen-Z oppressors. He believes that the demands of Gen-Z will not be addressed through the current electoral system, posing a risk of pushing the country back into instability.

Independent candidate from Kathmandu-2, Anup Bohara, claimed that the elections held under the current status quo will push the country towards conflict rather than providing a way out. He stated that he filed his candidacy to make the public aware of this issue.

Gen-Z Sujan Poudel indicated that there are signs of public resistance against elections under the current status quo. He warned that the government led by Sushila Karki would be responsible for any resulting damage.