Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel has stressed the need to include the younger generation in every national programme and dialogue. He stated that any discussion or event conducted without the involvement of Gen Z would be incomplete.
Speaking at an event titled “Social Accountability: Media and Youth Dialogue” organized today by the National Youth Council, Minister Kharel said that the government–Gen Z agreement signed in recognition of the Gen Z movement of Bhadra 23 and 24 has already acknowledged the movement as a form of people’s uprising. Therefore, he said, no one can afford to overlook it.
He highlighted that youth have always played a decisive role in every political movement:
“Not only the future, even the past and present belong to the youth. The Gen Z movement shattered the misconception that youths cannot lead change. They proved they can make sacrifices for transformation,” he said. “They demonstrated that if youth desire, the country can change within 27 hours. Yet this time, they did not seek power—they only demanded good governance and employment.”
Minister Kharel emphasized that any dialogue excluding the Gen Z movement would be incomplete, urging that youth must be brought into leadership roles. He said Nepal’s political landscape is entering a phase where youth influence will dominate and cannot be stopped.
“Every political party must now be ready to bring youth into leadership. The future of Nepal’s youth in politics is bright,” he added.
He further said that upcoming party conventions and the March 21 general election will reveal how youth-friendly political parties truly are—based on how many young leaders are given tickets and leadership responsibilities.
He encouraged youth to rise above ideological boundaries, claim their rights, and take ownership of nation-building. He also urged the media to highlight this new dimension of youth leadership, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting transformative change.
Other speakers included:
- Ganga Kumari Belbase, Member of the National Assembly and Secretary General of the Parliamentary Forum for Population and Development, who highlighted the need to view youth as solutions, not problems.
- Manita Shrestha, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who stressed the importance of producing skilled human resources through education.
- Sriram Haridas, UNFPA Nepal Representative, who emphasized the need for continued dialogue on media, youth, and accountability.
- Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, who noted that attacks on the media during the Gen Z movement revealed underlying public frustration, calling for self-assessment and reflection within the media sector.
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