Karan Singh hits out at Nepal PM for his statement on Ayodhya

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 15

The last prince of Dogra dynasty and former minister Karan Singh condemned the statement of Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who claimed that “the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram is in Nepal”.

Karan Singh, a scholar of high calibre and one of the most knowledgeable on Hindu scriptures and history, used quite strong words to condemn Oli who had been trying to distort the history and geography vis-à-vis India in the recent weeks because of domestic political compulsions.

Karan Singh, who was Sadar-e-Riysat of Jammu and Kashmir for almost two decades, knows Nepal like back of his hand. His wife Yasho Rajya Lakshmi was born in Nepal’s royal family.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the former Member Parliament said, “The bizarre statement by Prime Minister Oli that Sri Ram was in fact born in a village in East Nepal and that our Ayodhya is only an artificial concept created by India is indeed mind-boggling. This outrageous statement will have hurt the sentiments of a billion Hindus living not only in India and Nepal but around the world.”

Karan Singh further said, “The statement could have been dismissed as the gymnastics of a distorted mind, except that it comes fast on the heels of Oli's unfortunate unilateral action regarding a territorial dispute with India.”

“It would appear that he is trying to do whatever he can, even going to the extent of an absurd statement regarding Ayodhya and Sri Ram, to widen the distance between India and Nepal,” he added.

“Right thinking people in both countries should be aware of this ominous policy and do whatever is possible to recreate the friendly age-old ties between our two countries,” said the veteran leader.