KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Health Minister Pradip Paudel reportedly clashed during a cabinet meeting on Monday evening at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar.

According to a minister who attended the meeting, the disagreement centered on whether to reopen social media platforms.

“Minister Paudel insisted that the platforms should be reopened, while Prime Minister Oli emphasized that the government should not bow before any company,” the minister said.

At the start of the meeting, Paudel argued that social media should be made accessible, pointing out that the recent unrest and significant financial losses occurred because platforms had been blocked.

“The government must acknowledge its mistakes and address the demands of Gen Z,” Paudel told the meeting.

He also stressed that issues like anti-corruption measures should be addressed.

Paudel added, “Social media is not meant to remain blocked permanently. Even now, it is partially accessible. We should reopen it temporarily and take diplomatic initiatives to facilitate registration.”

Prime Minister Oli then raised the issue of a letter received from X, which stated that registration was not possible in a country like Nepal, labeling it as corrupt.

Oli emphasized national pride, questioning whether a corporate company could operate in a country without proper registration.

Paudel acknowledged Oli’s point but noted that citizens might not understand the technicalities.

Oli responded firmly, “The citizens need to understand.”

The two continued their back-and-forth discussion, and ultimately, the minister reported that a decision was made to take a positive initiative to reopen social media.

The same meeting also decided to form a committee with a 15-day deadline to investigate human casualties during the Gen Z protests.