Uttar Pradesh: A poster featuring Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ignited controversy in Nepal after it was prominently displayed during a welcome event for former King Gyanendra Shah in Kathmandu.
The rally, held just days after the former monarch’s appeal for national support, has deepened Nepal’s political divide, with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s supporters accusing India of meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs.Why Yogi Adityanath’s Poster Created a Row in Nepal
The presence of Adityanath’s image at the pro-monarchy gathering has fueled speculation about Indian involvement in Nepal’s domestic politics. The BJP leader has long been a supporter of Nepal’s deposed monarchy, and his ties to the country’s Hindu royal family are well known.
Prime Minister Oli’s supporters have pointed to the poster as evidence of foreign interference, alleging that it raises questions about the legitimacy of the rally.
At a public event in Kathmandu, Oli indirectly criticized the display of Adityanath’s poster, stating:
“We don’t use photographs of foreign leaders in our rallies.”
Meanwhile, pro-monarchy groups have dismissed these claims, arguing that the poster was planted by the current government to discredit their movement. Rally organizers maintain that they only instructed participants to carry Nepal’s national flag and Gyanendra’s portrait, denying any official approval for Adityanath’s image.
Former minister and pro-monarchist Dipak Gyawali questioned the controversy, pointing out that Nepal’s communist parties openly display images of Marx, Lenin, and Mao in their offices.
“We are not so weak as needing to use a foreigner’s photo in our procession,” Gyawali said.
Yogi Adityanath’s Connection to Nepal’s Monarchy
The ties between Nepal’s royal family and the Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, India, are deeply rooted in history. The Shah dynasty of Nepal has long revered Gorakhnath as its spiritual guardian, and its rulers have maintained a connection with the Hindu religious establishment in India.
Yogi Adityanath, as the head of the Gorakhnath Mutt, has historically criticized Nepal’s transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular democracy. When Gyanendra was dethroned in 2008, Adityanath, then a Member of Parliament, was vocal against the move, arguing that Nepal’s monarchy was essential for preserving Hindu traditions.
Rajendra Lingden, president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which organized the rally, also acknowledged these ties:
“We don’t know about the Adityanath poster. But what we do know and respect is that King Gyanendra has a deep connection of faith and respect with the Gorakhnath Mutt, since the Shah dynasty was blessed by Guru Gorakhnath.”
Political Fallout and Rising Tensions
The controversy surrounding the Adityanath poster has further polarized Nepal’s political landscape. Pro-monarchy groups argue that the current government fears the growing support for Gyanendra, while Oli’s administration insists that such rallies could destabilize Nepal’s democracy.
As Nepal navigates its political future, the historical ties between Indian religious institutions and Nepal’s monarchy continue to play a significant role in shaping the country’s internal debates.
The post Yogi Adityanath’s Poster at Nepal’s Pro-Monarchy Rally Sparks Controversy appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
