Page 26 - Issue 73

E L I T E
E L I T E V O L .1 I S S U E . 7 3V O L .1 I S S U E . 7 3

The decision in question was the Nepali What further deepened the crisis was the
government’s ban on several social media government’s response to the protests. Rather
platforms -TikTok was not among them, as it than absorbing public anger and working to
Title
was officially registered, which in turn enabled calm the situation, it resorted to violent
young people to mobilize. The government measures. Security forces deployed tear gas,
justified the ban on the grounds that these rubber bullets, and, at times, live ammunition
Name- Major- Year
platforms had not complied with new leaving behind fatalities and a significant
regulations governing their operation. In number of injuries. This escalation of force
reality, however, these platforms had served as only intensified the protests and fueled public
the primary means through which young outrage, culminating in the resignation of
people expressed their views, voiced Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli. His downfall,
opposition to the government, and displayed however, might have been avoided had the
their spirit of defiance. The closure was government chosen a more inclusive and
therefore perceived as a deprivation of this participatory approach.
essential right, fueling widespread anger

among the youth. At the same time, the
government pursued this decision with the aim
of silencing dissenting voices and preventing
unrest. Yet what it sought to avoid, it
ultimately provoked. The ban deepened public
resentment, particularly as people were already
burdened by widespread disorder, corruption,
unemployment, poor living conditions, and
nepotism. On social media, a trend emerged in ELITE’s Seventh Anniversary (2018-2025)
which ordinary young people compared their
own struggles with the privileges enjoyed by
officials’ children known as “nepo-kids.” This In the aftermath, Sushila Karki a -former
comparison not only inflamed public anger but Chief Justice of the Supreme Court- was
also embarrassed political elites, further appointed as interim Prime Minister to oversee

intensifying tensions between the government the transitional period, becoming the first
and the people. woman in the country’s history to hold the
position. The parliament was dissolved, with
new elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.

26