Nepal’s Balen Shah govt, not even a month in office, faces citizens’ protests

Public anger is building across Nepal against the government led by Balendra Shah, barely weeks after it took office with a commanding majority. Protests have spread from city streets to Singha Durbar, the country’s administrative hub, drawing students, political workers and ordinary residents in growing numbers.

Customs duty sparks backlash

A key flashpoint has been the decision to impose a mandatory customs duty on goods worth over Rs 100 brought in from India. In border regions, where cross-border purchases are routine, residents say the measure disrupts everyday life and adds to financial strain. What might appear administrative on paper has, in practice, hit a sensitive nerve.

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The government’s plan to dismantle party-linked student unions has added fuel to the unrest. Demonstrations led by school and college students have become more frequent, with images of uniformed protesters signalling how widely the issue has resonated. Student leaders say the administration has opted for confrontation over consultation, deepening mistrust.

100-point plan and proposed changes

The proposal, part of a 100-point plan approved soon after Shah assumed office, mandates the removal of political student structures within 60 days, with alternatives such as a “Student Council” to follow.

Critics argue this risks hollowing out campus democracy, where the Free Students’ Union system has long provided space for representation.

Voices of opposition and support

“The government is trying to strip away rights guaranteed by the Constitution. If necessary, we will take to the streets,” said Deepak Dhami, president of the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union. “The student movement has a long legacy in Nepali politics and has played a big role in safeguarding democracy,” he said. “The government’s decision thus appears immature and ill-considered,” he added as quoted by India Today.

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A different interpretation has come from constitutional expert Chandrakanta Gyawali. “The government has not banned organisations from the universities altogether; it has only moved to dissolve those linked to political parties, which does not violate the constitution,” he said.

Internal dissent among students

Within the student ranks themselves, there is some acknowledgement of internal problems. “We must accept that student organisations have not been functioning ideally in recent times,” said Bijay Sapkota, a leader associated with a communist student group.

“However, the government’s decision to shut down student organisations altogether just because they are affiliated with political parties is not appropriate,” he added.

Complicating matters further are allegations against Home Minister Sudan Gurung, with opposition groups pointing to suspected financial irregularities and pressing for his resignation.

What began as discontent over a handful of decisions has widened into something more layered. The government, not even a month old, now faces pressure on several fronts at once-economic policy, student unrest and questions over accountability-while the protests continue to gather momentum.