New Delhi: Following reports of anti-Nepal posters and the forced tonsure of a Nepali national in Varanasi, Nepal’s ambassador Nilamabar Acharya spoke with the Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath to ask after the safety of Nepal nationals in the state.
This week, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli had claimed at a function that it was highly likely that birthplace of Ram was not Ayodhya in India, but in Nepal.
A clarification was issued by Nepal foreign ministry a day later that his words were not meant to hurt sentiments and had only urged further research into Ramayana’s ‘cultural geography’.
Also read: Nepal PM Oli Says ‘Ayodhya’ Was in Nepal; Kathmandu Issues Clarification
The city of Varanasi has close connections with Nepal and is home to a large community of Nepalis, many of whom work in the temples.
Speaking to The Wire, Nepal’s envoy Acharya said that he was informed last evening that posters had been put up at the Pashupatinath temple in Varanasi’s Lalita Ghat condemning Oli’s remarks and also threatening Nepali nationals in India. The poster was signed by a little-known group, ‘Vishwa Hindu Sena’.
Later, the head of this group, Arun Pathak also uploaded a video on his Facebook account, in which an unidentified Nepali national was shown with a tonsured head, on which ‘Jai Shri Ram’ was written in black. The video shows the Nepali man being prodded by the group members to shout slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mati ki jai’.
A screengrab from the video showing a Nepali man being tonsured in Varanasi.
Acharya said that the he spoke to Uttar Pradesh CM in the morning and asked him to ensure that Nepalese nationals did not feel unsafe.
Also read: Adityanath’s Comment Irks Nepal, PM Oli Question’s UP CM’s ‘Decision-Making Capacity’
He stated that he was satisfied with the action taken by the chief minister – an FIR has been filed in the case. According to The Hindu, Varanasi police stated that FIR was registered at Bhelupur police station.
Diplomatic sources said that while relations between the two governments could have its “ups and downs”, it should not be reflected in the ties between the population of the neighbours. “We have to ensure that there is no escalation in these kinds of incidents. It should not spread like a virus,” a source said.
Also read: The Kalapani Imbroglio: Has India Pushed Nepal Too Far?
Nepal and India have had strained relations since last year, when Kathmandu had objected to the release of a political map.
Nepal also protested when India opened a new link road connecting Lipulekh to the India-China border. Bilateral relations took a further downturn after the Nepal parliament changed the constitution to update the political map in the national emblem to show territories also claimed by India.