PM Modi congratulates Nepal's interim PM Sushila Karki, says 'India remains committed to peace'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Sushila Karki after she was appointed as the interim Prime Minister of Nepal. The former chief justice of the Himalayan nation was chosen to lead the country days after violent Gen Z protests toppled the government of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli .

“I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal,” the prime minister wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

With the Friday appointment, Karki became the first woman to hold the post of prime minister in Nepal’s history. The Youth-led protests that broke out before she assumed power demanded accountability from the government, curbed corruption and also called for political reform.

The woman with a big task

The matter started to escalate after the Oli government imposed a ban on social media apps , which were used by people of Nepal to call out the lavish lifestyle of the children of politicians, often describing them as “Nepo Babies”.

The two-day violent clash between protesters and the authorities in Nepal killed 51 people and injured over a thousand. The demonstration ultimately led to the dissolution of the parliament, prompting calls for a neutral figure to lead an interim administration and oversee fresh elections.

The 73-year-old former Nepali chief justice is widely known for her integrity and strength. During her time as Chief Justice between 2016 and 2017, she was known for taking a strong stance against corruption. She is now being seen as a consensus leader, since she was accepted by both the protest leaders and Nepal’s political establishment.

The interim government under Karki will now be tasked with restoring order, investigating violence during the protests and preparing for general elections in the country, which were scheduled for March 5, 2026.