Reasons for the protests in Nepal

The protests that began in the capital Kathmandu yesterday quickly spread to various cities in the Himalayan country. 19 people were killed yesterday and hundreds were injured. At least two more were killed today. A curfew was imposed in various cities including Kathmandu from yesterday. The army was deployed. But the people ignored all this and took to the streets yesterday.

26 social media and messaging apps were banned in Nepal from midnight last Thursday on various charges including spreading misinformation, false information and hatred. Earlier, the companies were given a week to register in accordance with Nepal's laws.

But after five other apps including TikTok and Viber were registered, all the others were closed. This blocked access to apps and platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.

The government's decision caused anger among Nepali youth. However, the hashtags 'Nepo Kids' and 'Nepo Babies' had been popular in the country for a few weeks before the ban on social media and other platforms. The ban on social media was lifted last night in the face of the movement.

Therefore, the ban on social media from Thursday is not the main reason for the anti-government protests that began yesterday; rather, it is just an occasion. Other factors acted as a catalyst.

Protesters gathered outside the Nepalese Parliament building holding national flags to protest the ban on social media. Kathmandu, Nepal, September 8, 2025
However, the movement that started around the ban on social media brought to the fore various issues such as economic inequality, unemployment, inequality in opportunities and corruption in the country. Most importantly, a section of the youth were unable to accept the old leadership. That is why the protests have reached such a peak in a short time.

A Eurasia Review analysis says that in 2025 alone, one sensational scandal after another has come to light. The Union Cabinet Minister has resigned on charges of bribery. A former prime minister is facing a criminal case.

Fraud in airport construction, embezzlement in Nepal Telecom, extortion in the immigration department—these scandals have become a real sensation. Top leaders of various political parties have also been involved in gold smuggling and refugee fraud scandals. But the common people have seen that big leaders are not actually punished. It is seen that investigations are prolonged, low-level workers are punished while the powerful are spared.

Fire also breaks out at the house of the resigned prime minister in Nepal, the army is evacuating ministers
Before Thursday, pictures of politicians' children displaying luxury brand clothes and jewelry went viral on social media. The hashtags ‘Nepo Kids’ or ‘Nepo Babies’ and ‘PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal’ became popular on social media, mocking them. A sharp comparison spread widely on social media – ‘Their children return with Gucci bags, our children return in coffins.’

This highlighted a horrific reality. That is, the children of leaders return from foreign universities with a bagful of expensive goods, while the children of ordinary families return as corpses in coffins from Gulf countries, victims of unsafe migrant labor.

This culture of impunity has shattered public trust. The economy has taken a severe hit. Nepalese pay taxes, but in return they do not get improvements in roads, hospitals and schools. Ministers only fill their own pockets.

In addition, the Nepalese government has been trying to control social media for more than a year. The government alleged that cybercrime, fake news and misleading content (content) have increased in the country. These need to be controlled. In this situation, Nepal's top court issued a ruling last month. It said that the government can force social media to register in accordance with the country's laws. The companies need to appoint a local representative to whom the country's government and affected individuals and organizations can immediately file complaints. A Reuters report said that TikTok, Viber, WiTalk, Nimbaz and Poppo Live registered in accordance with the government's rules. They are still active. However, TikTok was banned in the country in 2023.
Another argument of the government in favor of banning social media was that foreign companies are taking huge money out of the country because they are not following any rules. They are not paying taxes properly. If the companies register, the country's foreign income will increase. KP Sharma Oli repeated this on Sunday.
However, critics say that freedom of expression has been hindered by banning social media. The government has done this to increase online surveillance. They also alleged that people in tourism-dependent Nepal depend on social media to conduct business. Apart from that, these platforms are a great place to rely on for communication between expatriates living in remote areas of the country and abroad.