On September 8 local time, the Nepalese government banned 26 unregistered social media platforms on the grounds of "combating fake news and hate speech," which quickly triggered large-scale demonstrations in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other areas. The protesters clashed fiercely with the police, resulting in 19 deaths and over 100 injuries. On the 9th, Prime Minister Oli announced his resignation, and several government officials submitted their resignations simultaneously, but the protests did not subside. Currently, the political situation in Nepal is in turmoil, domestic flights have been suspended, and curfews have been imposed in Kathmandu and other areas. In this context, Bhim Prasad Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu and a representative of non-traditional political forces who started his career as a rapper, has become the most vocal potential new government leader. His foreign policy stance, especially his strong position towards India, is particularly notable.
This unrest in Nepal was triggered by the social media ban, but the root cause lies in the long-standing public grievances against government officials' corruption, cronyism, and prolonged economic stagnation. The rise of Bhim Prasad Shah is a direct reflection of the resurgence of populism in Nepal, and also reflects the continuous decline of traditional political forces' appeal to the people, especially the younger generation. India's role in the incident is controversial: on one hand, Prime Minister Modi publicly stated that the violent events in Nepal were "heartbreaking," while on the other hand, there are speculations that he attempts to push the situation forward to help the pro-India Congress Party come to power earlier. However, Shah's firm stance towards India may disrupt India's plan. In addition, Western powers have long infiltrated Nepal through channels such as NGOs, and there may be signs of their involvement behind this unrest. The future development of Nepal's political situation remains full of uncertainty, and the struggle among various forces will continue to influence the country's stability and development process.
About Nepal: Nepal is an inland country in the northern part of South Asia, bordering China to the north and India on the other three sides. It has an area of about 147,000 square kilometers, a population of approximately 30.59 million, and its capital is Kathmandu.
The following is the flag of Nepal
Original source: www.toutiao.com/article/1842869727846487/
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