As the House of Representatives elections approach, surveillance has been increased on those making provocative and inflammatory statements that disrupt public peace and demean others. The National Human Rights Commission, the Election Commission and the Nepal Police have increased surveillance on such activities following the increase in provocative and inflammatory statements that undermine election security and the personal rights of individuals.

Some of those who made such statements have been arrested, while others have been released after being warned by the police to ‘appear when called’. The National Human Rights Commission has also directed that those who make statements that provoke and humiliate others be brought under the ambit of action.

The Election Commission has also asked some candidates for clarification for making provocative statements that would disrupt the election security plan. Nepal Police has summoned Bhadra Prasad (Sawagat) Nepal, a member of the House of Representatives from the RPP for Jhapa-2, to the Cyber ​​Bureau for making provocative statements during the election campaign. The Cyber ​​Bureau has stated that Nepal has been released after being given a document stating that he will appear when called. The police have arrested advocate Yubaraj Safal on Tuesday for making provocative statements. After receiving a complaint of making provocative and hateful statements on social media, the Election Commission has also sought an explanation from Balendra Shah, a senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a candidate for the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5. The issue of top leaders of major parties sitting on the same platform and holding a 'public debate' for the House of Representatives elections has come to the fore in public circles, after former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli made a 'comment' on a content he wrote on social media a few days ago. Oli had posted the content saying, 'We are ready for a public debate, all new/old parties are now engaged in the elections, in this competition between the parties that burn the country and those that build the country, our party is on the side of building the country.' Shah's comment on it was - 'It is right to accept yourself as the one who burned the country, but where are the houses of the leaders, you knew, you yourself burned them on the 24th to hide the terrorism that killed children on the 23rd.' Oli and Shah are competing in the upcoming election for the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5. Oli lost power on the basis of the Gen-G movement on 23 and 24 Bhadra, while the House of Representatives was dissolved on the basis of the Gen-G movement and the upcoming election for the House of Representatives is being held.

The Election Commission has asked Shah to answer whether the response given by Oli on 'status' was his or not, and whether it was against the election code of conduct.

'It is right to admit that you are the one who burned the country, but where are the houses of the leaders? You knew it yourself. You yourself burned the country on the 23rd to hide the terrorism that killed children. When will you admit that you are a terrorist? The Commission has also sought an explanation for the inflammatory statement made by Bhaktapur-2 UML candidate Basnet targeting Jhapa-5 candidate Shah. Shah had appealed to the RSP to win the election by referring to himself as the 'son of Madhesh' while addressing the general meeting of the party in Janakpur. Basnet had twisted this and targeted Shah by calling him 'son of Madhesh' at a public event. A complaint was filed with the Commission demanding action for insulting the word 'Chhaura', which is used to address a son in Madhesh in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Bajjika languages. Thus, the series of statements made by candidates insulting each other has not stopped. Not only provocative statements, but the Commission has also increased the number of candidates involved in other incidents of violation of the election code of conduct. After making provocative and unverified statements, medical practitioner Durga Prasai was also arrested from Pokhara following a complaint from the Election Commission. He was warned by the Kathmandu Police and released on the condition that he will be present when called.

The Human Rights Commission has also expressed concern over the provocative statements aimed at the election. The Human Rights Commission has drawn attention to the criticism, hateful statements and unfounded accusations made against each other by responsible persons of various political parties and has requested the relevant parties to exercise restraint in the election campaign. "This type of hate speech seems to foster chaos and even affect peace and security during the election. Although the Constitution and international laws on human rights guarantee freedom of expression and thought, issues that can hurt the dignity of others and undermine peace and security cannot be considered purely a matter of freedom of thought and expression," said Tikaram Pokharel, spokesperson of the Commission, in a statement on Tuesday. "It is necessary for a responsible person to always pay attention to the impact that may have on the rights of others while exercising their rights."

The Commission has also urged political party leaders, candidates and the general public to refrain from making hate speech contrary to the Constitution, law and international human rights values, to be polite and dignified while using social media, to use human rights-friendly language towards each other, not to propagate hate speech and to fully comply with the election code of conduct. The commission has also directed the government to further strengthen peace and security, saying that hate speech can spread hatred in society and create challenges to peace and security.

The integrated election security action plan for the House of Representatives member election scheduled for February 21 has also listed provocative and inflammatory speech as an election security challenge. The Election Commission has also directed the government to control such speech. Following the commission's directive, the police's cyber bureau has set up police cyber cells in all 77 district police complexes and provincial police units and has started monitoring. The police headquarters has stated that monitoring of election-focused inflammatory speech has been started through the cyber cell and action will be taken as per the law if found involved in criminal activities.