KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the remarks made by Prime Minister KP Oli on the birthplace of Lord Ram are not linked to any political subject.
Issuing a statement on Tuesday, it stated that the remarks have no intention at all to hurt the feeling and sentiment of anyone.
“As there have been several myths and references about Shri Ram and the places associated with him, the Prime Minister was simply highlighting the importance of further studies and research of the vast cultural geography the Ramayana represents to obtain facts about Shri Ram, Ramayana and the various places linked to this rich civilization,” it said in a statement.
The statement added that it may be underlined that the tradition of celebrating Bibaha Panchami where a marriage procession coming from Ayodhya, India to Janakpur, Nepal takes place every year.
The Prime Ministers of Nepal and India launched the Ramayana Circuit in May 2018, of which Janakpur-Ayodhya Passenger Bus Service is an important component, the Foreign Ministry stated.
These facts signify the bond of time-honored cultural affinity between our two countries and peoples, the statement adds.
PM Oli has drawn flack both inside and outside Nepal for his controversial statement that ‘real Ayodhya’ is in Nepal and Ram was a Nepali.
Speaking at a program organized on the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti at PM’s residence, PM Oli stated that some distortion of facts could have gone in the claim of India’s Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
“Although the real Ayodhya lies at Thori in the west of Birgunj, India have claimed the Indian site as the birthplace of Lord Ram,” PM Oli had said, “We also believe that deity Sita got married to Prince Ram of India. Actually, Ayodhya is a village lying west of Birgunj.”
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