Nepal unrest: Sudhan Gurung issues fresh threat to President, says ‘If Sushila Karki is not made the PM, then be ready to…’

Karki, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, former CEO of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising and Mayor of Dharan Harka Sampang are among the frontrunners.

Former chief justice Sushila Karki’s name is likely to be finalised as the head of the interim government at a crucial meeting today to end the constitutional deadlock in Nepal, sources said. However, the political turmoil in Nepal took a shocking turn after a video went viral showing a man threatening President Ram Chandra Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel with death if Karki is not made the interim Prime Minister. The video features Sudhan Gurung, head of Hami Nepal NGO and regarded as the face of the Gen-Z movement, allegedly making a phone call to a senior army officer.

In the call, Gurung can be heard saying that if a consensus is not reached on Karki’s name, he would lead a march to the President’s Office. The video also shows him using abusive language against the President and warning, “If Sushila Karki is not made the PM, then be ready to take a bullet in the chest.” He even claimed that if their demands are ignored, they are prepared to kill all political leaders, adding, “We are dying anyway and ready to die.” According to sources, Gurung not only issued violent threats but also hurled abuses at the President during the call. He allegedly warned an army officer that if Karki was not appointed as interim Prime Minister soon, the consequences would be “very serious.”

Why the unrest?

Nepal has banned 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X. These platforms were supposed to register with Nepal ‘s Ministry of Information and Technology within seven days, but they failed to do so. The ministry had set a deadline of 7 days from August 28 for the companies to complete the registration.