Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari has resigned from his post.

Adhikari quit the post on Tuesday, citing the government’s authoritarian response during Monday’s Gen Z protests.

In his resignation letter, Nepali Congress lawmaker Adhikari said that instead of recognising citizens’ natural right to question democracy and stage peaceful protests, the state responded with widespread suppression, killings, and use of force, moving the country towards authoritarianism rather than democracy.

He added that he could not remain in power without answers on how the government resorted to violent behaviour against a generation with which it should cooperate to build the nation.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also resigned on Monday evening, submitting his resignation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli following the deadly Gen Z protests.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa called on Prime Minister Oli to take moral responsibility for the deaths of 19 protesters during the Gen Z demonstrations and to resign from his post.

Thapa said, “Innocent youths have been killed unnecessarily. The prime minister must take responsibility for this suppression and step down immediately.”

He added that the Nepali Congress cannot remain a witness or partner in this situation even for a single day and said he will push for this decision in the party meeting.