Social media bill cannot be passed in its current form: Sharma

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma has said that Social Media Bill, presented in Parliament, will not be passed in its current form.

Speaking at a program in Jhapa on Thursday, Sharma said any provision undermining press and freedom of expression is unacceptable. “No one should be jailed for criticizing or satirizing political leaders,” Sharma said. “The social media bill will not be passed as it is. The government must be prepared to amend it.”

Commenting on the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India, Sharma said Nepali students in the university are still in the state of fear. Sharma suggested the government to establish a mechanism to ensure immediate communication with host countries to prevent incidents like these from repeating.