Nepal protest leader says he will run in upcoming elections | Protests News

Sudan Gurung, who rose to prominence on this month’s protests, tells Al Jazeera he’ll run in March polls, promising youth-led ‘individuals’s authorities’.

The chief of Nepal’s latest youth-led protests that toppled the federal government inside days has introduced he’ll run within the nation’s March normal elections, saying his motion will “struggle until the tip” to construct a individuals’s authorities.

In an exclusive interview with Start Here’s Sandra Gathmann, Sudan Gurung mentioned his group is already mobilising supporters nationwide to kind a “motion for change” quite than a standard political occasion.

“They’ve dragged us into politics,” he mentioned concerning the former authorities of “egocentric” and “corrupt” politicians. “If it’s politics they need, that’s what they’ll get. We shall be operating for the subsequent election as a result of we aren’t going to again down now.”

Gurung, 36, rose to prominence because the face of a grassroots uprising led largely by Nepal’s Gen Z.

The demonstrations erupted after the federal government blocked social media platforms, together with Fb, X and YouTube, saying the businesses had did not register and undergo authorities oversight.

However the protests quickly spiralled into broader discontent, fuelled by anger over alleged corruption, state violence and impunity. Dozens of younger demonstrators had been killed, and 1000’s extra had been injured.

Gurung believes his motion is able to govern, with volunteers forming authorized and communications committees and gathering coverage calls for from throughout the nation, by way of platforms akin to Discord, which was used to mobilise throughout the protests, and Instagram.

He mentioned his workforce is working to make sure “that each voice of the Nepalese individuals is heard”.

‘Not scared’

Gurung is unlikely to register as an unbiased candidate, and as a substitute plans to run “as a gaggle”.

“If I simply run as an unbiased candidate, we received’t have this drive of youths,” he mentioned. “Collectively, we’re stronger.”

The motion has pledged to run on a broad agenda past anticorruption. It plans on working to spice up Nepal’s tourism sector, strengthening relations with neighbours India and China with out “exterior interference”.

“We have to respect them, they should respect us,” Gurung mentioned.

He mentioned he doesn’t wish to see the outdated political guard contesting the March vote and urged interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki to hurry up investigations into corruption and killings of protesters.

“We’ll make sure that the investigation is finished correctly, on time, in order that they received’t take part [in the elections],” Gurung mentioned.

When requested whether or not he desires to change into prime minister himself, Gurung mentioned, “I received’t say I’m the correct particular person proper now … but when the individuals select me, I’m undoubtedly going to run.”

He additionally spoke of makes an attempt to silence him, saying many had tried to “demotivate me, they’ve been attempting to comply with me, they’ve [been] attempting to scare me.”

Regardless of the intimidation, he struck a defiant tone.

“I’m not scared … simply killing me received’t do something,” Gurung mentioned. “I want to save lots of my nation as a result of it’s now or by no means.”