Nepal has lifted a social media ban, which sparked protests and led to clashes with police that left at least 19 people dead and injured more than 100 others.
In the weeks prior to the ban, a 'nepo kid' campaign, spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children and allegations of corruption, had gained momentum on social media.
When the government moved to ban 26 platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, protests erupted, with thousands of young people storming parliament in Kathmandu on Monday. Several districts remain under curfew.
A government minister stated the ban was lifted after an emergency meeting to address the demands of the younger generation.
Last week, Nepal's government ordered authorities to block 26 social media platforms for not complying with a registration deadline with the ministry of communication and information technology.
Platforms like Instagram and Facebook have millions of users in Nepal, who depend on them for entertainment, news, and business. The government justified the ban as a measure to combat fake news, hate speech, and online fraud.
Protesters expressed their objections not only to the social media ban but also to what they perceive as the government's authoritarian behavior. Some demonstrators hurled stones at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s house.
One protester remarked that the social media ban was merely a catalyst for the protest, emphasizing that the focus was on corruption.
On Monday, police in Kathmandu resorted to water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. In the aftermath, Prime Minister Oli expressed deep sadness over the violence and casualty toll, attributing the events to infiltration by vested interest groups. He announced plans to investigate the protests and provide financial relief to the families of those who died, as well as free medical treatment for the injured.
The Home Minister resigned on the same day due to intense backlash over how the administration handled the protests.
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