CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has claimed that social media platforms were not registered in Nepal because the effort was sabotaged from within the country. He made the remarks while addressing a UML event in Bhaktapur on Thursday.
“We did not ban social media. For the past one and a half years we have been saying that any business operating in Nepal must register,” Oli said, adding, “People may insult me, but they must not insult my country.”
He argued that social media companies doing business in Nepal should be registered and taxed. “Those who earn money by selling vegetables or tomatoes have to pay taxes — shouldn’t those who earn billions from social media also pay taxes? Is that justice? Is that our country’s self-respect?” he asked.
Oli accused elements lacking national pride of stirring up trouble. He said the reason registration did not happen was because such forces created a commotion and blocked the process. “Otherwise, which company would say, ‘I won’t register in your country, I won’t pay your taxes, I won’t follow your law, I won’t respect your constitution or your country’?” he said.
He reiterated his claim that the failure to register social media platforms resulted from internal actors who lifted the issue and attempted to damage the country’s reputation.
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