Minister of Communications and Information Technology Prithvisubba Gurung, who is also the spokesperson of the government, has argued that the bill was brought to prevent freedom of expression rather than to restrict freedom of expression. He has clarified that he has introduced the bill to stop the society which is going towards rudeness.

He said this at the 'Nepal Literature Festival 2025' from Thursday in Pokhara organized by Bookworm Foundation. "Nepal Literature Festival 2025" has started in Pokhara from Thursday organized by Bookworm Foundation. The festival was inaugurated by Communications Minister Gurung.

Professor and economist Mahendra P Lama gave a scholarly lecture before the inauguration. Lama is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Open University and the founding Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University in India.

After the inauguration, journalist Vijay Timilsina had a chat with Minister Gurung about media council bill, social media bill and other issues in the 'Sanchar Samvad' session. The bill on social media introduced by the government is currently under consideration in the parliament. Even before the bill goes to the parliament, various organizations are going to oppose the bill. Minister of Communication and Information Technology Prithvisubba Gurung has defended the bill in the background of protests that the bill seeks to restrict freedom of expression.   Asserting that people's understanding of the

bill is different, he remarked that the bill is necessary to prevent looting and violence through social media. How many people were robbed this month? Convinced, asked for money or did something . Ideas took . Should it end or not? If there is a state, if there is a government, then looting has to be stopped . The violence had to stop . Crime had to be stopped, he said.

He also told that a law related to AI is going to be made to regulate the activities that harm the society. In the bill introduced by the government, there is a provision for action from making deepfake videos to broadcasting. However, Communications Minister Gurung said that the social media bill does not only include fines. He mentioned that the operators of social networks will run a digital literacy campaign. "We don't just have an empty penalty. We have asked the operators of social media to run a literacy campaign . We have said that we will help them," he said, "what things you do and what things you don't do through IT and social media. All users had to run the campaign . We have said that the government will help social networks. He also said that the Supreme Court's directive decision on freedom of expression is enough. He mentioned that the Supreme Court has ordered to stop breaching the privacy of personal details while running a social network through any IT.

Minister Gurung emphasized that social media users should be alert and aware. Communication Minister Gurung said that encouraging those who do business using social networks . However, he says that it is not allowed to insult others through social media. "Don't you use social media to increase your business," he said, "the government encourages it." List your service. The government encourages . Increase business. But, why do you hate speech to others . Why do you hack ? Found that . He said that the government should use social media to the maximum extent. He claims that an ordinance has been brought to create an investment environment to make Nepal an IT hub.

At the opening ceremony, he released a picture book titled 'Mermaid Whale Princess' written by a 6-year-old girl, Bhumilakshmi Parajuli .