The Gen-Z Movement 'Hijacker'

KATHMANDU : While the Gen-Z movement was taking center stage, one quite unknown person was at the center of power negotiations with Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel for forming the government and expanding the cabinet. Who is Sudhan Gurung, then? Security agencies were taken by surprise.

When they found out about credible intelligence linking Sudhan with Free Tibet groups and Nepalese middlemen and dubious business houses, he was already a kingmaker.

From Water Distributor to Power Broker

Even as he made headlines in national and global media as a Gen-Z movement leader, Gurung was initially assigned as a volunteer water dispenser during the protests.

He did not participate on the second day of the movement. He emerged solely to the people in a leadership role when Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel initiated talks on making a new government.

After the formation of the government, he bypassed active Gen-Z group members who had created the momentum of the movement and occupied his position in the organization.

His efforts to construct himself as the leader of the Gen-Z generation appear as questionable as his history. There are three things that are of special concern: the organizations his organization "Hami Nepal" has collaborated with, his finances, and his overseas travel.

The Free Tibet Connection

References on the website of his organization "Hami Nepal" extend to mentioning working with "Students for a Free Tibet," an organization engaged in the Free Tibet movement from India.

This agency is also engaged in anti-China activities in Nepal. In 2006, it was actively involved in Free Tibet demonstrations by Tibetan communities in Boudha, Kathmandu. During that time when government departments were actively monitoring demonstrations and Free Tibet activities in Nepal under the "One China Policy," it is surprising that intelligence and security agencies remained unaware of groups and individuals associated with these groups.

Besides this, the organization has a connection with Namo Buddha's Thrangu Monastery, which is linked to the Free Tibet movement. The Free Tibet campaign is linked to the America-based Himalayan Children's Fund, which is the monastery's principal sponsoring organization. Its presence manifested itself shortly after Sushila Karki's government.

Although it is natural for heads of state from other nations to offer congratulations to newly appointed prime ministers in Nepal, something new took place following the appointment of Karki as interim prime minister. The Dalai Lama, being in exile in India and never before having offered congratulations to a Nepali prime minister, sent a congratulatory message.

Dubious Partnerships

Hami Nepal's ties with organizations like the Barbara Foundation, and the addition of scandalous go-between Deepak Bhatt and members of notorious business house Shankar Group—Sulabh Agarwal and Sahil Agarwal—to its list of major benefactors also did not pass without notice. Hami Nepal had gone so far as to honor them as organizational benefactors.

Social Service After the Earthquake

He is known to be the chairman of Hami Nepal and appears to have been involved in social work since 2015.

Before that, he was involved in a campaign called ITVI. Even claims were made that Sudhan, who had joined Gen-Z's movement allegedly to distribute water, was not Nepali. But it was discovered that he is originally from Chumchet Rural Municipality in Gorkha. Currently, he resides in Ranibari, Kathmandu.

Security authorities have now collected three generations of his history. The bachelor Sudhan had established his office on the same building where there is the office of the Barbara Foundation in Baluwatar after establishing Hami Nepal.

When Sudhan's association with the Free Tibet campaign was revealed, the Barbara Foundation claimed that it had no connection with him other than support after the earthquake. But in an interview, Sudhan clarified that Dr. Sanduk Ruit, chairman of the Barbara Foundation, was the guardian figure of Hami Nepal, and they were kids of Hami Nepal. His office is no longer in the Barbara Foundation compound; he has shifted to Ranibari.

Suspicious Transactions and Global Suspicious Travels

From data on Hami Nepal's official webpage, the organization has collected donations of 540 million rupees to date. Following expenses, an estimated 6.352 million rupees are retained by the organization.

While the website indicates received and spent amounts, data on who gave how much is lacking, something one would expect to see. While he has included supporting organizations with linkbacks, he apparently collects donations through eSewa and GoFundMe.

His foreign visits also appear suspicious if analyzed. He had gone to Turkey and returned to Nepal in 2023 for one month and then went to China the same year for one month. Subsequently, he went to Thailand in 2024 for a month and then returned to Nepal. Sudhan's parents after separating them sent him to stay with his grandparents in Chitwan for his education. Although he joined A-levels after finishing his SLC, he failed.

From DJ to Gen-Z Leader

During the beginning of the Gen-Z movement, youngsters such as Sabal Gautam, Purushottam Yadav, and Miraj Dhungana were around. Sabal and Purushottam made an application on 23rd September at the District Administration Office requesting to hold the protest.

Once the Gen-Z movement became successful, these three took shelter, and Sudhan appeared at the front unexpectedly.

His role during the Gen-Z movement has been that of a water- supplying volunteer. According to Raksha Bam, a participant in the Gen-Z movement, when bikers group entered the nonviolent protest by the Gen-Z generation, the demonstration was disoriented. Hami Nepal jackets were found to be worn by motorcyclists from the group.

Commando-themed clothes-wearing volunteers who appeared to be Hami Nepal volunteers were also controversial.

It has come to light that they were provided with five-kilometer range walkie-talkies from the Kathmandu District Administration Office on the pretext of using them for disaster purposes but used them during the Gen-Z movement.

The Hijacking Allegations

Sudhan is currently being accused of hijacking the Gen-Z movement. The first reason is his questionable past but also because he is too young. Born in 2044 BS (1987/88), Sudhan is not part of the Gen-Z generation by age. He is 38 years old now and contesting to represent the Gen-Z generation, who are typically 28 years old and younger.

Having entered politics through the Gen-Z generation movement, his career actually began as a DJ in Jhamsikhel's International Club. Later, he also opened a club, "OMG," in Thamel in 2012. During his club-running days, he appears to have become close with Balen Shah, Kathmandu Metropolitan City's current mayor.

Later on, by way of advertisements and choreography, he befriended celebrities and was previously also involved in movements against abnormalities at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

There he became familiar with Harka Sampang, who is now the mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City.

The rapport between the two remains strained owing to conflicts that took place during that movement.

असोज १४, २०८२ मंगलबार ०१:१९:५८ मा प्रकाशित

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