Lawmakers and leaders from Nepali Congress resented the Nepal government’s order which banned protests across the country in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported The Himalayan Times. 
 
The ban order violates people’s right to peaceful protests and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution, said Radhe Shyam Adhikari, a prominent Nepali Congress leader. Earlier the home ministry had issued a circular to all districts to impose restrictions on protests. 

Acting on the directive, the Kathmandu Valley administration issued an order banning protests in the Valley. 

Adhikari argued that rulers around the world are curtailing freedom of expression and peaceful protests, and they have been trying to impose authoritarian rule using the conditions generated by the global pandemic.  

“If the government thinks that protests can spike COVID-19 infection, it can tell organizers to adopt safety measures such as using masks and maintaining social distance,” Adhikari said as quoted by The Himalayan Times in its report. 

Opposing the government’s decision of a blanket ban on all districts, he said it might be justified if they impose restrictions only on the districts where the COVID-19 infection rate was high.