Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba seems to be positive about reinstating social media platforms.
The two general secretaries, Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, drew Deuba's attention to the need to listen to the Gen Z movement and reopen social media.
Meeting with Deuba for an hour and a half at his residence in Budhanilkantha on Monday, the general secretaries urged him to take the issues raised by Gen Z seriously and to speak with Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli.
General Secretary Sharma stated that they told Deuba that the government should present itself positively to embrace the sentiments of the Gen Z generation.
The government had blocked social media platforms not registered in Nepal last Thursday.
With the closure of platforms like Facebook, citizens have lost a medium for expression, and businesses have also been affected.
The two general secretaries told NC President Deuba that closing social media platforms has impacted the Gen Z generation's sentiments, students, parents' communication with their children abroad, upcoming festivals, and all businesses reliant on digital platforms, including the music industry.
They said that the NC should urge the PM to reopen social media immediately.
They also stated that the government should be positive about embracing the sentiments of the Gen Z generation.
“We should not give any opportunists a chance to exploit the fire of discontent, so let's listen to Gen Z's concerns in time,” they told Deuba.
They also suggested that both protestors and the government should act with restraint to prevent any violence during the Gen Z protests in Kathmandu and other cities across the country.
Deuba appears positive about reopening social media. The two general secretaries have urged him to meet with the PM to discuss the matter.
“First, I will talk to our ministers, and then I will talk to the PM,” Deuba said. Previously, the government's decision to close social media was also opposed during a meeting of the NC Central Working Committee.
Speaking to journalists in Biratnagar on Saturday, Deuba said that the government does not intend to close social media but has only asked for them to be registered.
General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma also told Deuba that the government should proactively establish contact through diplomatic processes and demonstrate its capability to bring platforms into the registration process.
