Nepal lifts ban on social media platforms after 19 die in protests

Nepal’s government has lifted a ban on social media platforms after the move triggered widespread protests by the younger population of the country, turning deadly and killing 19 people.

The announcement was made by Nepal’s Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung late on Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, as the country saw one of its worst unrest in over a decade.

Several social media sites , including Facebook, YouTube and X, have been inaccessible in Nepal since Friday after the government blocked 26 unregistered platforms, leaving users angry and confused.

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The KP Sharma Oli-led government defended the ban as a means to curb the spread of fake news. However, the move was criticised by rights groups who said it was a tool for censorship.

The protests that erupted nationwide were not solely in response to the government’s stance on social media, organisers said. They pointed to a broader frustration among the youth over shrinking economic opportunities and persistent corruption.

“All the Nepali citizens are fed up with corruption. Every youth is going outside the country. So, we want to protect our youth and make the country’s economy better,” a protester told Reuters.

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At least 17 people were killed in the capital city of Kathmandu, while two others died in the eastern city of Itahari. Shekhar Khanal, spokesman for the Kathmandu Valley police, told AFP that about 400 people were injured, including 100 police officials.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lal Lekhak has resigned, taking moral responsibility for the deaths. He informed party leaders of his decision during a meeting at President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence on Monday evening.

Home Minister Lekhak submitted his resignation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar.

“There was a huge loss of human lives in today’s protest. I have to take moral responsibility for that, and I will not sit in the post on moral grounds,” Lekhak told OnlineKhabar.

With inputs from agencies