Bhattarai urges government to monitor social media for misleading content

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has called on the Nepali government to actively monitor social media platforms. He expressed concern over the spread of misleading, threatening, and hate-inducing content that could disrupt religious and social harmony. Bhattarai urged the public to be vigilant against manipulated videos, images, and posts designed to incite religious hatred and social division.

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While respecting freedom of expression and ideological freedom, the state must intervene effectively against activities that harm religious beliefs, personal security, reputation and social harmony.

His secretariat issued a statement clarifying that Bhattarai is being targeted by individuals and groups with political motives. These actors are allegedly using old videos and statements out of context, combined with manipulated images and posts, to falsely portray him as anti-Hindu. The statement stressed that secularism in Nepal signifies equal respect for all religions and beliefs, not hostility towards any.

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secularism does not mean opposition to any religion. Rather, it said, secularism requires the state to treat all religions and beliefs equally while ensuring citizens’ freedom to follow a religion, hold a belief or choose not to have one.

Furthermore, Bhattarai's secretariat objected to attempts to frame critical discussions about caste practices, discrimination, and social inequality within Hindu society as attacks on Hinduism itself. The statement argued that questioning social practices and engaging in critical debate are natural processes in a democratic society. Presenting such discussions as religious hatred distorts facts and undermines religious tolerance, social harmony, and national unity, Bhattarai warned.

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Questioning social practices within any religion, culture or tradition, engaging in critical debate and calling for reform are natural processes in a democratic society.