The Nepali government, led by Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda,” has banned TikTok, citing concerns about the app disrupting social harmony. Critics argue that the move is an attempt to stifle freedom of speech, and some users have resorted to VPNs to access the app. The government claims the ban is due to the pervasiveness of content that threatens social harmony, stokes religious hate, causes family disintegration, and fuels sexism and casteism. The decision has faced legal challenges, with at least 10 petitions filed at Nepal’s Supreme Court. Critics view it as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices.