Kathmandu, September 6

Facebook has returned the post written by Balendra Shah, mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, accusing Lumbini Provincial Assembly CPN-UML lawmaker Rekha Sharma of involvement in child labour and abuse after three days.

Three days ago, Facebook removed Mayor Shah's status about domestic child labour, wherein he accused UML legislator Rekha Sharma of committing the crime of child labour. Facebook notified that it had violated the community's standards.

On Sunday, Mayor Shah posted a status with a photograph of a UML lawmaker from Lumbini Province, claiming that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City rescued a minor who was forced to do domestic chores at her home. He accused Sharma of thrashing and exploiting the minor for eight years and asked Prime Minister Oli to arrest the lawmaker, noting that the court had already ruled that a case be filed against Sharma.

He had commented that good governance for Oli entails shedding crocodile tears over the girl's death and announcing Rs 100,000 in reparation via Facebook. He also asked when and if Sharma would be arrested.

'Honourable Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli Jyu. Good governance entails obeying a court order, which includes arresting your MP, Rekha Sharma, who has a history of child abuse.'

His post reads further, 'Perhaps for you, good governance implies shedding crocodile tears and making a hundred thousand Facebook announcements following the death of an innocent girl. When will you nab her?' he questioned.

Balen was furious with Prime Minister KP Oli, claiming that his post had been expunged by the government. Following that, some of Balen's supporters began an unfollow campaign on Prime Minister Oli's Facebook page.

Balen responded to the removal by posting, 'Do not take down the post; arrest the accused. If I am wrong, apprehend me; if not, apprehend the perpetrator.'

As of Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Oli's official Facebook page had 662,000 followers. However, following the recent campaign, his follower count had fallen to 589,000 by Wednesday evening, a 73,000 decrease in just 36 hours. However, the Oli Facebook page gained 4000 followers by today, bringing its total to 593, 000.

Meanwhile, Mayor Balen's official Facebook page reached 2.1 million followers- the highest amongst any political leaders so far in Nepal. Until Tuesday morning, Balen's followers on Facebook were only 2 million.