Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has come under criticism for a social media post where he expressed his desire to become an ambassador. Analysts, politicians, and civil society representatives accuse him of using such tactics to divert attention from important issues.
Observers argue that the government is facing intense criticism due to controversial ordinances, the ongoing plight of landless people, and the systematic neglect of marginalized communities in the annual budget. They claim that the Prime Minister's digital activities are pushing public energy towards cheap online debates.
The latest controversy began when Prime Minister Shah posted a cryptic message on his official Facebook page, stating, 'I also want to be an ambassador. If anyone has the Prime Minister's number, please share it?' The post quickly garnered light-hearted and sarcastic responses from high-ranking government officials, cabinet members, and members of parliament, leading to severe public criticism for trivializing state matters.
Critics argue that the Prime Minister is using a culture of cheap popularity, which primarily creates debates in the public mind and manipulates social media algorithms. They express concern over the blurring of the line between state matters and personal entertainment.
This online controversy follows a highly publicized incident on June 4, where Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar was arrested on the direct instructions of the Prime Minister's office and the cabinet. Former senior bureaucrats have criticized this action, stating that using law enforcement agencies to arrest a high-ranking government official over an electronic message sets a dangerous precedent and undermines institutional stability.
Human rights activist Majid Ansari emphasizes that the police must operate according to the rule of law, not based on the Prime Minister's whims and fancies. Observers note that such behavior is not new for the Shah administration, which often uses social media theatrics to cover up policy failures and legal controversies.
