KATHMANDU, JANUARY 3 The interim government has decided to withdraw one of the most contentious bills proposed by the previous KP Sharma Oli administration, the Social Media Act Bill 2025 - which was drafted to make provisions regarding the operation, use and regulation of social media - from the Upper House of the Federal Parliament. According to Government Spokesperson and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, the Council of Ministers has approved the withdrawal of the SMB 2025. The SMB in the Upper House had sparked outrage for including several ambiguous sections, including those with severe penalties ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 million. Experts had described the Oli-led government's move as a strategic attempt to silence dissenting voices, as imposing harsh penalties is the ultimate way for authorities to instil fear in the general public. On January 28, 2025, then- minister of communications and information technology Prithvi Subba Gurung proposed and registered the bill in the Upper House of the Federal Parliament. 'I have introduced a bill to make provisions regarding operation, use and regulation of social media, as it is necessary to formulate a law to make the operation and use of social media dignified, safe and systematic and to regulate and make the platform operators and users of social media responsible and accountable to promote social harmony, cultural tolerance and good governance through the correct and systematic use of social media,' Gurung had stated at the time. The bill was presented to the National Assembly on February 9, 2025. While it had remained there for a long time, attempts were made to move it forward. A general discussion was held on the bill on August 9, 2025. Meanwhile, the previous government announced a blanket ban on 26 social media platforms on September 4, which became the tipping point of the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9, which wiped out the Oli-led government in less than two days. On September 12, after four days of power vacuum, an interim government was formed, led by former chief justice Sushila Karki. The interim government, which was formed on the mandate of Gen Z, has decided to withdraw the SMB. In addition, if the government wishes to enact a separate social media act, it must introduce a new bill. Similarly, today's Cabinet meeting decided to approve an amendment to the Singha Durbar complex's master plan to build a statue of Gen Z martyrs on the grounds of the Parliament building that is currently under construction.