That One Photo with Oli That Turned Ansh Verma’s ‘Chiya Bagan’ into Ashes

Kathmandu: During the Gen-Z protests held on 8 and 9 September in cities across the country, including the capital, public and private property was heavily damaged. Protesters not only attacked public property but also targeted businesses and individuals seen as close to political parties. Among the victims was a restaurant called Chiya Bagan in Kirtipur, owned by TikTok creator Ansh Verma, which was set on fire. But why would protesters turn their anger on a TikToker?

According to Ansh Verma, a group of protesters stormed into his Chiya Bagan on 9 September at around 5 p.m. and set it ablaze. Shocked, Ansh asked, “Did I do something wrong by taking a photo with someone? I am not a member of any political party, I have never joined one. I was trying to do something in this country as an independent.” He believes his restaurant was burned down because people tried to portray him as being close to the ruling party.

The photo he refers to was taken with outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. On 6 February, Ansh Verma and social media personality Miss Pavi visited Oli at Baluwatar. That meeting and photo later fueled outrage against him, both online and on the streets.

That same day, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, leader of the main opposition party, was scheduled to address parliament. When he stood at the rostrum, he looked for Prime Minister Oli, but contrary to parliamentary tradition, Oli was absent. Oli had announced on social media that he was “busy with internal work.” However, by evening it emerged that he had been meeting with Ansh Verma and Miss Pavi, taking photos and making TikTok videos. Oli drew widespread criticism for ignoring parliament and instead spending time with social media influencers.

As Oli came under fire, Ansh and Miss Pavi also became targets. Many accused Ansh of staying silent when the government introduced a bill to regulate social media, but later appearing close to the same government.

The anger toward him had been building even before that. During the ‘Nepo Kids’ campaign, launched online to criticize the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, Ansh remained silent. Many viewed him as someone who ignored government wrongdoing while maintaining ties to power, a perception that further fueled the anger of Gen-Z protesters.

Devastated by the loss of his investment, Ansh lamented, “I did not take a photo with a person, I took it with the office of the Prime Minister. Is that a crime?” He suspects jealousy over his success may also have played a role in the attack.

Ansh said his restaurant had employed 28 to 30 people and that the incident shattered his faith in investing in Nepal. “I don’t feel safe to invest in this country anymore, and I won’t do it again,” he said. With over 1.1 million followers on TikTok and more than 800,000 on Instagram, Ansh had used his platforms to promote Chiya Bagan. He said the restaurant had been thriving. “I used to sell 1,400 cups of tea a day. It was doing really well. People around couldn’t stand it,” he recalled.

 

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