‘Gen Z’ and Nepal Protests Echo in Indian Politics Amid Ladakh Unrest and Zubeen Garg Death Probe

The ripple effects of Nepal’s Gen Z-led uprising, which recently toppled its government, are now making waves in Indian political and police discourse. From the unrest in Ladakh to the heated reactions in Assam over singer Zubeen Garg’s sudden death, references to Nepal’s youth movement and "foreign links" have increasingly become part of the national conversation.

In Ladakh, after a protest for statehood turned violent in Leh, the region's police chief SD Singh Jamwal raised suspicions about foreign connections, including activist Sonam Wangchuk’s past visit to Pakistan. Speaking to ANI, Jamwal revealed that two Nepalese nationals were detained during the protests. “Whether they were part of a design, I cannot say. This region has a history of Nepalese labourers, so we need to investigate further,” he said.

Wangchuk, known for his environmental activism, is under scrutiny not just for alleged foreign ties, but also for his speeches. According to home ministry officials, his references to the Nepal Gen Z protests and the Arab Spring may have incited violence during the Ladakh agitation. The protests left four people dead after clashes and arson, including an attack on the BJP’s Leh office.

Meanwhile, in Assam, similar rhetoric emerged in the wake of Zubeen Garg’s mysterious death while swimming in Singapore on September 19. Amid fan unrest and rising demands for justice, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma drew a direct parallel to Nepal. “This is Zubeen’s Assam. We will not allow it to become Nepal,” he said, urging citizens not to resort to violence.

Sarma also announced lookout notices for Siddharth Sharma, Garg’s manager, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore. Both are wanted for questioning.

The repeated references to Nepal’s political turmoil highlight how the Gen Z label—once a generational tag—has taken on sharp political meaning. After Nepal’s young protesters ousted Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, India’s own politicians have invoked “Gen Z” as both a threat and a symbol of resistance.

While Rahul Gandhi praised Indian Gen Z for “defending the Constitution,” BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused him of inciting unrest and claimed Gen Z would actually support a Hindu nation—fueling yet another front in India's ideological battles.