KATHMANDU: The government’s decision to block 26 social media platforms, including unregistered Facebook, has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders.
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa called the move “a step in the wrong direction.” He said the Supreme Court had directed the government to make laws for regulation, not impose blanket bans. “The government has taken a reverse course. This must be reconsidered,” he said. Thapa added that social media is vital for freedom of expression, public debate, and government accountability.
CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Ramkumari Jhakri said regulation is necessary, but it should not restrict free speech. She stressed that citizens must balance rights with responsibilities. “Free speech cannot be used for insults or defamation,” she said, adding that social media platforms need proper rules and oversight.
CPN-UML Politburo member and former communications minister Gokul Baskota criticized the ban as extreme. He called it “North Korean-style” censorship. “I had proposed technology and laws to regulate social media. Censoring information will not solve problems,” he said. Baskota warned that blanket restrictions could undermine press freedom and citizens’ rights.
The debate highlights the tension between regulating social media and protecting democratic freedoms.
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