KATHMANDU: The opening line—“Rebellion against imperialist capitalism is inevitable”—sounds like an excerpt from an old Maoist manifesto. Yet it is not.

It is the first sentence of an appeal issued by the Janapakshiya Bidhyarthi Union, Nepal, a little-known student group that called for an educational strike across the Kathmandu Valley on Monday.

Largely unfamiliar to the public, the organization has drawn attention for its aggressive leftist rhetoric and a sweeping 18-point charter of demands.

The language, tone, and scope of its agenda suggest that the group is more than a conventional student pressure organization, carrying clear political ambitions beyond campus concerns.

Although the Janapakshiya Bidhyarthi Union has remained largely outside the mainstream of student politics, Monday’s shutdown appears to be a calculated attempt to announce its presence.

The strike forced many schools—particularly private institutions—to close, citing security concerns.

Populist and Wide-Ranging Demands

A closer look at the 18-point demand list reveals a mix of student welfare issues, national political questions, and foreign policy concerns—an unusually broad agenda for a student union.

Financial incentives and benefits:

The group has demanded a monthly allowance of Rs 500 for students up to Grade 12, government-backed concessional loans of up to Rs 1 million for college students to promote self-employment, as well as student ration cards and free internet access.

Direct attack on private schools:

One of the most controversial demands calls for an immediate 50 percent reduction in fees charged by private schools. The union has also demanded that teachers in private institutions be paid salaries equivalent to those of government school teachers.

These demands have alarmed private school operators, many of whom chose to close schools fearing unrest.

Voting rights for Nepalis abroad:

Perhaps the most politically resonant demand is the call to ensure voting rights for Nepalis living overseas, including students and migrant workers, starting from the next general election. The group frames the issue bluntly: “Remittance flows into the country, but votes do not—why?”

National politics and electoral reform:

Beyond education, the union has raised overtly political issues, including the scrapping of what it calls “unequal treaties,” the return of allegedly encroached territory, and holding federal, provincial, and local elections on the same date to reduce costs.

A private school operator in Kathmandu said the decision to close schools was driven by safety concerns. “Whether the demands are good or bad is a separate issue,” he said. “When a sudden shutdown is called, the safety of children becomes the top priority. The group may be small, but the aggressive language they use makes it risky to ignore.”

Union Chair Sunita Budhathoki defended the strike, saying the movement aims to end the commercialization of education and secure voting rights for Nepalis abroad. “Nepali students and workers abroad send remittances that keep the economy running,” she said. “If their money is valid, why shouldn’t their votes be?”

These are the organization’s 18 demands:-