Manisha Koirala (Social media)
National News: The protests against the social media ban and corruption in Nepal took a horrific turn on Monday. At least 20 people were killed and more than 250 were injured in firing by security forces outside the Parliament complex in the capital, Kathmandu. Meanwhile, famous Nepali actress Manisha Koirala strongly condemned the government's action and called it "Nepal's black day."
Koirala shared a picture showing a blood-stained shoe on Instagram. Along with this, he wrote in the Nepali language, "Today is a black day for Nepal. When the voice against corruption and the demand for justice are suppressed with bullets, it is an insult to democracy."
This protest started when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government ordered the closure of 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The government said that these companies were not following the rules, like registration and appointing representatives at the local level.
But the youth, especially Generation Z, saw it as an attack on freedom of expression, and the protests that started online soon spilled over to the streets.
On Monday, angry protesters surrounded the parliament complex in Kathmandu and tried to enter inside. Police used sticks, tear gas, and rubber bullets to stop the crowd, but when the situation worsened, the security forces used real bullets. Seeing the situation going out of control, the army also had to be deployed.
There has been public discontent over corruption and lack of accountability in Nepal for a long time. The social media ban added fuel to the fire. Now at the international level too, concerns are being raised about the questions being raised on freedom of expression in Nepal.
Copyright © 2025 Top Indian News
