Nepal had a tough experience in 2020. Rising protests on dissatisfaction over politics, youths rising for themselves, high political visits – all these happened this year. But what are the main events that shook Nepal in 2020? Let’s explore a quick recap of the good and bad – ten major events – that shook Nepal in 2020:
1. Dissolution of Parliament
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli called an emergency cabinet meeting on December 21. In that meeting, he decided to dissolve the parliament over a power-tussle. According to the analysts, PM Oli’s growing bitterness with the ruling party co-chair and dissident leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ was the main cause for this “unconstitutional” decision.
Student Union Leaders Burn an Effigy of PM K.P. Sharma Oli over Parliament Dissolution. Credit: AP.
2. The Coronavirus Pandemic
Nepal detected its first COVID-19 case on 9 January 2020. A 31-year-old student returning from Wuhan was the first COVID-19 patient who tested for the disease. Since then, nearly 260,000 cases have been detected. More than 1800 deaths have been counted from this disease. Despite a surge in cases, Nepal’s coronavirus fatality rate is meagre.
May 6, Officials stand for managing a 26-year-old mother’s dead body. She was the first patient to die from the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nepal. Credit: Reuters.
3. Enough is Enough Protest
In June, a movement called “Enough is Enough!” started in Nepal. Primarily, the frustrated youths were depressed because of the government’s indecisive lockdown. Also, the COVID-19 response budget’s misuse and the Presential office’s decision to buy decoration worth of crores were the main reasons for this movement. The protests were triggered all over Nepal, and it was stopped after showing the expenditure statement for the COVID-19 response.
Youth’s protesting with different placards near PM’s resident Baluwatar. Photo: Reuters.
4. #JusticeforNirmala Trends Again
JusticeforNirmala started to trend on Twitter after the brutal death of Nirmala Panta (13). Protestors from all over Nepal had brawled with the police demanding the culprit be punished. Later, this Twitter trend was also trending in India. Similarly, #HangTheRapist also started to trend in Nepal – resulting in a feminist-led protest.
Nirmala Panta (13).
5. Nepal Bans Indian News Channels
The Indian news channel, Zee News, aired a program falsifying the claims that the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has honey-trapped P.M. K.P. Sharma Oli. After this program, Nepali cable operators decided to ban Indian news channels on 10 July. The ban sparked a worsening relationship against Nepal-India ties.
6. Nepal Releases A New Political Map
Nepal Government released a new political map on 20 May, including Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh. The Government included 355 sq. km. as additional territories in Byas Rural Municipality of Darchula district. The map was a contentious move in Indian Government’s official’s opinion. This move created a diplomatic misunderstanding between the two neighbouring countries.
This map closed table-talks with the officials of two countries for a long time. However, to close the deal over the Lipulekh, Limiyadhura, and Kalapani issue, the Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, visited Nepal on 26 November. He stayed in Nepal for two days. This visit developed a good mutual understanding between the two countries.
New Political Map of Nepal.
7. Chinese Defense Minister Visits Nepal
Only three days after the Indian Foreign Secretary’s visit to Nepal, Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe arrived in Kathmandu on 29 November for an official visit. He conveyed a message of supporting the military cooperation with the Nepali Army and P.M. of Nepal. However, the Indian officials did not support this visit.
China’s Defense Minister Wei Fenghe. Photo Credit: AFP
8. The Monsoon Catastrophe
In 2020, Nepal was hit hard by the Monsoon. Numerous landslides and flash floods killed more than 800 people. One of the bone-chilling incidents this year was; Jugal Rural Municipality landslide that took the lives of 39 people. And Dhorpatan Municipality flash flood which killed 29 people.
9. Visit Nepal 2020 Gets Cancelled
The Nepal Government planned to welcome more than two million tourists in 2020 through the Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 2020 campaign. Numerous advertisements were also posted in different countries. The famous Chinese actress, Xu Quing, was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for VNY. However, the plan did not succeed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nepal Government officially decided to end the campaign on 22 March’s cabinet decision.
The coronavirus pandemic severely affected VNY 2020 campaign. Photo: Xinhua.
10. Snow Leopard, Ang Rita Sherpa Dies Aged 72
Ang Rita Sherpa, known as Snow Leopard, who climbed Mount Everest ten times without an oxygen cylinder, was an icon for the mountaineers. He died on 21 September, suffering from brain and liver complications. The Nepal Government paid state-honor during the cremation – for his contributions.
11. National Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Passes Away
National Poet Laureate Madhav Prasad Ghimire died at the age of 102 on 18 August. He was suffering from lung complications. Nepal Government paid military honors during his cremation on 19 August during the cremation.
