Protests in Nepal after satirical song taken off Web

As reports about the song’s withdrawal began coming up, an avalanche of support for the singer, and the right to protest against the government, have dominated public discourse.

Many Nepalis living abroad, mainly the US, actively challenged the ‘ban’ by reproducing the song, which has gone viral. Information Minister Gokul Baskota said he had no information about any ban.

As protests against the ban began pouring in, Kiran Poudel, senior vice-chairman of the Nepal Yuba Sangh, a youth front affiliated to the ruling Nepal Communist Party, issued a general appeal to all to boycott Sharma, alleging that he has insulted the country’s President and tried to project Communist rule as “the rule of Yamaraj (the god of death)”.

“Janatako mutu bhitra kanda kati kati, dui arbako helicopter chadchhin rastrapati” (The people feel the pinch in their hearts, as the President enjoys ride in a helicopter), the song says, referring to the purchase of a costly helicopter by the Nepal Army for the President recently. Prime Minister Oli had defended the purchase of the helicopter, saying that the President could not be expected to travel in a bullock cart.