'Ram was not Indian': PM KP Sharma Oli says Shiva, Vishwamitra and Valmiki were also Nepali
Shiva
and sage Vishwamitra, originated from Nepal. Speaking at a party event organised by the CPN-UML's Tourism and Civil Aviation Department in Kathmandu, Oli reiterated that Lord Ram was born on what is now Nepalese soil.
Oli cited the original
Ramayana
by sage Valmiki to support his claim, saying, 'We talk about promoting tourism, but how can someone just invent a story saying Ram was born elsewhere? Ram was born in what is today Nepalese territory. Whether it was called Nepal back then or not is a different matter — that region now lies within Nepal.'
He added that although Ram is considered divine by many, Nepal has not actively promoted this belief. 'We hesitate to speak about it. We don't preach it enough — maybe it feels awkward to some. But the birthplace is sacred to those who revere Ram,' he said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Rates
Undo
Expanding on his claim, Oli asserted that other prominent figures from Hindu mythology, including Shiva and Vishwamitra, also hailed from Nepal. 'It's not something I made up. Valmiki's
Ramayana
mentions that Vishwamitra is from Chatara, and he taught Lakshmana after Ram crossed the Koshi River and headed west,' he explained, referencing locations in Sunsari district.
This is not the first time Oli has made such assertions. In July 2020, he had controversially claimed that the real Ayodhya is in Thori, Chitwan district of Nepal, and ordered the construction of a Ram temple there. At the time, he argued that the Ram Janmabhoomi rightfully belongs to Nepal and that historical narratives placing it elsewhere are fabricated.
Live Events
He had also claimed that Balmiki Ashram, where sage Valmiki lived, is in Nepal, and that the place where King Dasharath performed a ritual to beget Ram is in Ridi. 'Ram was not Indian, and Ayodhya is in Nepal,' Oli had declared.
To support his argument, Oli had questioned the plausibility of Ram traveling from present-day Ayodhya in India to Janakpur in Nepal without any means of communication or transport. 'There were no phones or messaging systems. How would he have known about Janakpur? The geography suggests proximity,' he said.
Oli's comments have sparked controversy in the past, drawing criticism from members of his own party, the ruling Nepal Communist Party, for invoking religious beliefs for political narratives. Following the backlash, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was compelled to issue clarifications on the matter.
(With ANI inputs)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
NGT notice to ministry, state govt over ‘illegal' construction on forest land
1 2 3 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notices to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change, Odisha govt and several officials over alleged illegal construction on forest land in Jajpur district. The petition, filed by Kailash Chandra Nayak of Nuadihi village under Danagadi tehsil, sought intervention against construction being carried out by the state govt on forest land in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks without mandatory approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The petitioner, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, claimed these constructions are being carried out without any forest clearance from the Centre. A representation was submitted to the authorities on March 30, but no action has been taken so far, the petition claimed. The bench, comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (expert member), noted the matter "requires consideration" and issued notices to the additional chief secretary (forest, environment and climate change), district collector of Jajpur, BDOs and tehsildars of Danagadi and Sukinda and the divisional forest officer (Cuttack). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40 Learn More Undo All respondents have been directed to file their counter affidavits within four weeks. The case was listed for the next hearing on Aug 25. According to the petition, massive concrete structures are being built using funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) with the approval of Jajpur district collector, who is also the managing trustee of DMF. It was alleged that on Nov 21, 2023, the collector issued a letter to the Sukinda BDO for constructing activity rooms in 132 primary schools at a cost of Rs 13.20 crore. On Jan 24, 2024, he again approved Rs 13.10 crore for additional classrooms and Rs 14 crore for activity rooms in 140 schools under Danagadi block. The petition sought a halt on all non-forest activities being carried out on forest land without prior central approval and demanded that such constructions be declared illegal.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Maharashtra language war: Is the showdown aimed at Mumbai civic poll? Experts debate
On 'To The Point', the focus is on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's announcement of 35% reservation for women in government jobs, aimed at empowering women and reshaping Bihar's workforce. This policy applies to all government positions at every level and department, but only for original residents of the state. The decision comes months before the Bihar Assembly elections, with women constituting nearly half of Bihar's 7.64 crore voters. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, women outvoted men with a 59.4% turnout compared to 53% among men. The government has also approved the formation of a Bihar Youth Commission to address unemployment concerns. The announcement has sparked debate on whether it's a genuine push for empowerment or a well-timed political strategy, especially given that a similar 35% reservation policy has been in place since 2015. Additionally, the transcript covers a controversy between the Indian government and social media platform X (formerly Twitter) over the blocking of Reuters and over 2000 handles. X claims the government ordered blocking without justification, while the government denies issuing any fresh blocking orders, raising concerns about press freedom and censorship. The upcoming Kaavad Yatra is also discussed, with reports of shops and dhabas along the route being made to display 'I am Hindu' posters, sparking a debate on religious profiling and discrimination. The discussion touches on broader issues of religious identity, caste census, and economic discrimination, with opposing views from BJP and Samajwadi Party spokespersons.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
QR code stickers must on dhabas, non-veg shops shut along UP Kanwar Yatra route
In a move that is expected to reignite a political debate around vendors' identity in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has intensified checks and regulations along the Kanwar Yatra routes during the holy month of Sawan. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has begun pasting mandatory QR code stickers on all food joints operating along the Kanwar QR stickers, linked to the Food Safety Connect app, will allow visitors to instantly access key information — including the eatery's licence or registration number, owner's name, location, and menu details — by scanning the code and entering basic inputs like state and Today's ground report from the Muzaffarnagar–Haridwar highway showed compliance at several outlets, including "Pradhanmantri Chaiwala" dhaba, where the QR sticker was clearly displayed. In addition to hygiene measures, the administration has also directed that all non-vegetarian dhabas (roadside eateries) on the Kanwar route remain shut during the yatra period — a protocol followed in previous years as well. Owners like those at "Zafar Biryani Dhaba" confirmed they had been informed of the temporary closures and are cooperating with a visible shift, many dhabas have updated their nameboards and signage, displaying them more prominently — a move driven by both administrative order and pressure from local Hindu YASHVEER SLAMS SCANNER SYSTEMHowever, Swami Yashveer, a key figure overseeing voluntary checks on the Kanwar route, expressed concern about the effectiveness of the sticker system."The scanner only shows the owner's name. It doesn't tell us who's cooking the food or what conditions they're working in. Anyone can hide behind a Hindu name and deceive the public," he told India Today Yashveer demanded that details of kitchen staff and hygiene standards be publicly displayed, and called for the health department to be empowered with greater authority for on-ground inspections."Those shouting Palestine Zindabad in Parliament are acting against India's integrity. Strict legal action is needed," he the scanner drive is meant to promote transparency and public health, the debate over identity, food culture, and nationalism continues to intensify on the Kanwar year, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a major political slugfest after the Yogi Adityanath government issued an order asking all shopkeepers to display their names outside their shops, with opposition parties calling it "hate politics" by identifying and targeting Muslim vendors.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Uttar Pradesh
