NA Unanimously Approves Withdrawal of Social Media Bill

The National Assembly on Monday, February 9, unanimously approved the government’s proposal to withdraw the contentious “Operation, Use, and Regulation of Social Media Bill, 2025.”

National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Dahal tabled the withdrawal motion, which the House endorsed without opposition.

Earlier, Tulsa Kumari Dahal, Chairperson of the Legislative Management Committee, presented the committee’s report on the bill. She said the Assembly’s meeting on August 29 had referred the bill to the committee for clause-wise deliberations, during which 35 lawmakers registered a total of 155 amendment proposals.

Dahal added that the committee held informal consultations at various stages with the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, the ministry’s secretary, and other relevant stakeholders.

On February 6, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anil Kumar Sinha tabled the withdrawal proposal on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Sushila Karki.

The bill, widely criticised as an attempt to curb freedom of expression, was initially registered in the Upper House on January 28, 2025, by the then KP Sharma Oli-led government and formally tabled on February 9, 2025, by then Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung.

Despite repeated efforts to advance the legislation, including a general discussion on August 19, 2025, the bill stalled amid sustained public and political opposition.

Tensions escalated in September when the Oli administration attempted to enforce executive directives. On September 4, 2025, the government ordered the shutdown of 26 social media platforms, including YouTube, X, and Meta-owned apps, citing their failure to register in Nepal.

The move triggered youth-led protests demanding the restoration of social media access and accountability for systemic corruption. Demonstrations turned violent, resulting in significant loss of life and property. Then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, and the government lifted the ban, but unrest continued, with public and private properties, including politicians’ residences and state institutions, vandalised and set on fire.

Amid the crisis, Prime Minister Oli resigned. The army evacuated him and other leaders to safety.

An interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was formed on September 12. Parliament was dissolved, and election to the House of Representatives was announced for March 5, 2026.

(With inputs from RSS)