By Babbler

UML Chairperson and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who is hiding somewhere in a safe shelter, recently attempted to define “socialism with Nepali characteristics”—a phrase clearly inspired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In China, under Xi’s leadership, corruption has been brought under control, the rule of law has been enforced, and the country has made tremendous progress across all sectors, moving toward becoming the world’s largest economy and a global superpower.

In contrast, Oli’s version of “socialism” appears to serve personal ambitions rather than national ideals. He has amended party statutes to tighten his grip on power, turning the UML into a cult of personality: “Oli is UML, and UML is Oli.” His loyalists have gone so far as to claim that no one is capable of succeeding him. They reportedly blocked former President Bidya Devi Bhandari from joining the party out of fear that her popularity might challenge Oli’s supremacy. Many within UML believed Bhandari could unify the party—something Oli, it seems, could not tolerate. Like the late Girija Prasad Koirala, he apparently wants to remain chairman until death.

President Xi has said that communists should not possess personal wealth. Meanwhile, Oli is widely considered one of Nepal’s richest political leaders. Rather than working for the people, he is seen as an agent of powerful business brokers, going as far as amending national laws to serve their interests.

Perhaps this is what “socialism with Nepali characteristics” truly means—hypocrisy, personal gain, and betrayal of ideology.

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Hopes with Gen-Z

In stark contrast, Gen-Z offers a fresh wave of hope. Educated, tech-savvy, and strategic, this new generation has taken to the streets, demanding change, accountability, and good governance. It is encouraging to see Nepali youth under 28 rising up to rebuild the nation.

Meanwhile, senior leaders well past retirement age remain active in politics, clinging to power. Their successors are no better—loyal only to their party heads, content to carry their leaders’ bags instead of real reform. We have no hope in them. Our support lies with Gen-Z, who stand for sovereignty, independence, and a vibrant, self-reliant Nepal.

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#NepoKids: A Wake-Up Call

The #NepoKids movement has become a bold and effective campaign to expose the children of powerful political leaders who are misusing taxpayer money through their parents’ influence. The campaign has directly targeted the families of senior leaders in Nepali Congress, UML, and Maoist Centre, as well as high-level bureaucrats who have abused their positions.

The message is clear: if you’re benefiting unfairly from your parents’ authority—the NepoKids are watching.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Foreign NGOs are also banned in the United States. In Nepal, we pay high regard to the foreign NGOs. We call them INGOs. What is the mission of such ‘international’ NGOs? We don’t take care.

Dhruba H. Adhikary

To justify republicanism, the office of the National News Agency should be kept in Chyasal, making its chairman “Baiguni Keto”, keeping the office of Gorakh Patra in Sanepa, making its general manager “Mutton Kazi”.

Bishnu Pokhrel

Oh, Government, if I shut down Facebook, how can I talk to my children abroad?

Kumar Nepal

This Constitution does not unify the country; let’s worry about the country rather than the system. Let’s not be confused.

Lokesh Dhakal

The closure of social networks is a threat to democracy; this is not against the violation of freedom of expression. The platform opens with the listing. We should respect the court and existing laws.

Dr. Sundari Pokharel

Now, TikTok has made it public that the government’s registration means that nearly 3 million videos and content (many of them at the request of the Nepal government) have been deleted in the nine months since TikTok was registered. Acts such as hate speech and nudity have not decreased but have increased. Videos of protests against the government are being asked to remove. Why not make public the amount of tax these networks paid while preaching as if they were not registered?

Tanka Dahal

The person who had to step down due to moral turpitude (perhaps even financial) in the cooling-off period case is now the chairman of the parliamentary hearing committee! Sorry to “loktantra”!

Sharad Raj Pathak

Gagan Thapa, like an impotent Congressman, has no moral right to oppose the government. During night times, he enters in the Baluwatar and supports all the decisions there. The next day, he makes a fool of the party workers by opposing the very decisions. If he has the courage, he should be able to take back NC’s support to the government.

Pankaj Das

In India, the government has introduced a strong policy to stop illegal migration; in the meantime, Rohingyas, Bangladeshi refugees, are being pushed into Nepal.

Nepal has introduced a liberal law to grant citizenship to foreigners.

Karmadas

Telephone and internet lines were disconnected for some time to solve the Maoist war! In such a situation, the same thing is done in other countries; India had also disconnected it in Manipur, but in Nepal, by making it news, the leaders raised people against the king, and that step of 2061 is appropriate.

Jeevan

Those leaders of the day claim that roads have reached every house in villages, but

Whether they know or not, at what level the debts have scaled!

Khadka Bhoj

Now Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg comes and takes the form from room number 1, goes to 5, goes to 7 and corrects the word again, goes to 9 and corrects the mistake, goes to 11 and brings another without a photocopy, goes to room number 17 and finds out that there is no postage stamp, goes out to the tea shop and buys a postal ticket  paying Rs 25 for Rs 10 worth postal ticket.

Yubraj_Koirala

Those citizens who are applauding the social media ban by indulging in extreme nationalism, or in support of their respective parties, should understand that this move is completely linked to the violation of freedom of expression in Nepal. The main purpose of this move is to censor negative content about leaders and parties in the name of content moderation prior to the election!

Sameer Mani (A) Dixit

If I have to choose between the technology sovereignty and freedom of expression, I will surely chose the second one.

Madhuraman Acharya

The government has blocked social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube in Nepal. This changed the daily routine of the elderly citizens in Nepal to connect with their children abroad and enjoy and forget the loneliness. These social platforms had paid tax, therefore, the government should not have stopped their services.

Umesh Mainali

Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha