“Protests took place due to failure to provide good governance”: Nepal’s Interim PM Sushila Karki

Sushila Karki, Nepal's interim prime minister, pledged on Friday, September 19, to tackle corruption, create jobs, and increase living conditions in her first public statements since the country's government was overthrown by youth protests.

Karki stated that the protests, which killed at least 72 people and caused her predecessor, KP Sharma Oli, to resign, were sparked by discontent with mounting corruption and other failures of the political establishment.

“We must accept the fact that the protests took place because of the failure to fulfil the spirit and objectives of providing good governance and prosperity enshrined in the constitution,” Karki said, as per a Reuters report.

She spoke on Nepal's National Day, which commemorates the tenth anniversary of the constitution's proclamation.

Karki, a former Supreme Court chief justice, was named to the position last week following discussions between protesters, the president, and the army leader. She is the first woman to lead Nepal and is also tasked with conducting the elections for parliament on March 5.

She stated that the administration was committed to creating jobs, improving the quality of life, and enhancing transparency in its operations.

Nepalese authorities say more than 2,100 people were hurt during the two-day rioting last week. Arson and vandalism caused significant damage to both private and state property, including the complex that houses the prime minister's office, the Supreme Court, and parliament.

According to Kulman Ghising, Minister for Energy, Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development, the damage might cost between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.