KATHMANDU: During the second day of the Gen Z movement (Sept 09), the country was in a state of turmoil. Protesters set leaders' homes ablaze, reduced party offices to ashes, and attacked government structures from local to federal levels. Commercial enterprises, including IME, Bhatbhateni, Hilton, and various CG business centers, were also engulfed in flames.

Amid the volatile environment, where any instigation could lead to the targeting of property, Sujeev Shakya, the Founder Chair of the Nepal Economic Forum, was accused of inciting violence against a business group. Despite being known for his writing in favor of the business sector, Shakya made a provocative post on the social media platform X.

Spreading false information that former Prime Minister KP Oli was planning to flee the country aboard a Himalaya Airlines flight, Shakya wrote: 'If Himalaya[n] Airlines helps Oli to flee then all the Yeti group businesses are going to take the wrath of the mobs.' As the Yeti Group holds shares in Himalaya Airlines, this statement was widely interpreted as an attempt to incite attacks against the conglomerate.

The provocative post, published at 12:23 p.m. on Sept 09, concluded with the disclaimer: 'Hope sense prevails'

Shakya deleted the tweet only after mobs had attacked multiple business houses in Kathmandu. Three days later, at 8:45 a.m. on Sept 12, he posted another tweet appearing to condemn the spread of false information.

In reality, on the day in question, two Himalaya Airlines aircraft were parked at Tribhuvan International Airport, one was in Kuwait, and a flight returning from Lhasa was diverted to Pokhara after being unable to land in Kathmandu.

Had the mob acted upon Shakya's inflammatory post, it could have led to the destruction of one of Nepal's major business groups and a key joint aviation venture.

Social media users are now demanding action against individuals whose online posts allegedly aggravated the already volatile situation.

Sujeev Shakya is a regular columnist for an English-language daily and the author of several books, including Arthatantra, Arthaat Parivartan, Nepal 2043, The Pandemic Years, Unleashing Vajra, and Unleashing Nepal.

He chairs the Nepal Economic Forum, an organization modeled after the World Economic Forum. According to its website, he also serves as a senior advisor for Bhutan and Nepal at the U.S.-based consultancy firm Boer Group Asia.

Despite his alleged online provocation, his personal website describes him as 'a thought leader who connects business excellence with social consciousness in a humane manner.'

The Himalayan Times tried to reach Sujeev Shakya for a statement, but our call and text message remained unanswered at the time of publication.