KATHMANDU: Several Nepali political leaders have recently visited Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, despite controversy surrounding a photo of Adityanath carried during a pro-monarchy rally in Kathmandu on February 9.
The rally, organized by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Durga Prasai, aimed to welcome former King Gyanendra Shah back to Kathmandu.
Pradeep Bikram Rana, a pro-monarchy activist, carried a photo of both Adityanath and the former king. This act drew criticism, with many questioning the political motives behind associating the Indian leader with the pro-monarchy movement.
The photo quickly went viral, prompting Prime Minister Oli’s chief advisor Bishnu Rimal to comment on the nationalist undertones of the display. Rana fled Kathmandu shortly after the rally, claiming that the Nepal Police were searching for him in connection to the event.
In the weeks following the controversy, political leaders from Nepal have increasingly traveled to Lucknow to meet with Adityanath, who is known for his association with Hindu nationalism.
Madhesh Pradesh Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh and former Lumbini Pradesh Chief Minister Dilli Prasad Chaudhary visited Adityanath this week. Additionally, Chandrakesh Gupta, Abhishek Sah, and Bikash Kumar Thakur are among those who have made similar trips.
Bikash Kumar Thakur, a Congress worker and current coordinator of the Madhesh Provincial Government’s tourism program, has been a vocal advocate for reinstating a Hindu state in Nepal. Thakur’s coordination of these visits has raised questions about the growing influence of Hindu nationalist ideologies in Nepal’s political landscape.
The visits to Adityanath come amid rising discussions over the Hindu monarchy movement in Nepal, with some leaders expressing support for a return to a Hindu state.
The February 9 rally and the subsequent visits to Adityanath’s residence highlight the complex political dynamics at play, as these leaders seek closer ties with India’s BJP-led government while advocating for Hindu nationalism in Nepal.
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