“We Failed to Explain the Intent of the Ban,” PM Oli Admits Mistake Over Social Media Suspension, Orders Judicial Probe into Violence

After violent protests in Nepal against the social media ban, the government has withdrawn restrictions and ordered a judicial probe. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli admitted that the government failed to explain the purpose of the ban and clarified that there was never an intention to completely shut down social media.

In Nepal, the government has lifted the ban on social media platforms after a day of intense clashes. Authorities appealed to demonstrators to return home and announced an investigation into incidents of arson and vandalism. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli admitted that the government could not properly explain the actual intention behind the ban.

In a statement released at midnight, Prime Minister Oli said infiltration among demonstrators created a frightening situation. Expressing sorrow over the deaths of protesters in Kathmandu and across the nation, he acknowledged that the administration failed to convey the true purpose of the restrictions.

PM Oli’s Justification for the Ban
Explaining the government’s reasoning, Oli stated that rising misuse of social media had been a concern for over a year. The administration had been pushing companies to register locally in Nepal. He added that following directives from the Supreme Court regarding regulation of online platforms, the government moved ahead with restrictions.

Government Could Not Clarify Its Intention
Oli conceded that failure to communicate the intent of the move led to unfortunate events. He emphasized, “The government never had an intention to completely shut down social media.” Appealing to citizens, Oli urged protesters to step back since the process of reopening social media platforms had already begun.

Compensation for Victims’ Families
The Prime Minister also announced a judicial investigation into the violence and warned of legal action against infiltrators who instigated unrest. After the cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung expressed condolences to those who lost their lives and confirmed that their families would receive proper compensation.

Judicial Probe Ordered
The Ministry of Health has been assigned full responsibility for treating the injured. Gurung stated that a committee has been formed to present a judicial probe report within 15 days. The investigation will identify those behind the unrest and hold them accountable under the law. The government confirmed that the reopening of restricted social media platforms has already been initiated.