It's a crime to make witchcraft related accusation in Nepal.

Legal experts say that Rimal could fall in legal trouble if the issue is taken up to the court. Under the existing laws, anyone guilty of making witchcraft allegation could face up to five years in prison.

KATHMANDU, July 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal has come under fire from all quarters, including the leaders of his own party, for his superstitious remark in 'a lowly and demeaning' tweet posted supposedly against the dissidents who have been increasingly critical of the government acts in the recent weeks.

In a tweet shared by thousands of social media users since he posted it early morning on Sunday, Rimal lashed out at the dissidents by comparing them, albeit in veiled words, with the messengers of witch.

“It's said Chhauda do not wobble on their own, they are let loose by somebody. They inflict us with pain! Are these Chhaudas wobbling on their own, or is somebody letting them loose?” the tweet reads.

Chhauda is a word that has its roots in superstition and it roughly means a witch's agent in appearance of a cat, usually a black one.

It's a crime to make witchcraft related accusation in Nepal.

Rimal's tweet became viral as it came just hours after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged leaders of Nepal Communist Party to stand united 'like soldiers' in defense of the government.

Oli was telling this in reference to a growing criticism from his own party leaders who have been attacking the government 'over flawed policy and misrule'. In the recent weeks, the Oli government has found itself at the receiving end for a series of controversial decisions.

On the day Oli instructed leaders to stand in defense of the government, the All Nepal National Free Student Union, the party's student wing, was criticizing the government for holding back on its decision to conduct pesticide residue testing of fruits and vegetables coming from India under alleged pressure from the southern neighbor.

Several prominent NCP leaders including Madhav Nepal, Bhim Rawal and Agni Sapkota are also unhappy with the government's decision to fund millions of rupees to hold the IIFA Flim Awards, a popular Bollywood cine awards, in Kathmandu.

The government has also found itself in hot water over several bills including the one on media, land and nuclear energy.

Rimal's tweet sparked a strong reaction on social media platforms and beyond with many citing it as an example of dearth of basic political decency in Oli's cabinet. Some even demanded action against Rimal for propagating superstition, while few others demanded his resignation.

When asked about Rimal's comment, NCP leader Agni Sapkota, who of late appears increasingly critical of Oli government, said Rimal's lowly statement was undeserving for a comment.

“I don't want to stoop at his level by commenting on it,'' he said.

Legal experts say that Rimal could fall in legal trouble if the issue is taken up to the court. Under the existing laws, anyone guilty of making witchcraft allegation could face up to five years in prison.

Rimal, however, is not the only person in the government to mention witchcraft in public statement.

At the height of the popular uprising in Madhes in 2016, Oli had made a similar statement accusing the neighbor (read India) of inflicting pain by playing Chhauda.

Despite changes in laws, witchcraft-related violence continues to remain a big problem in Nepal. A total of 47 cases of -related violence were reported in the fiscal year 2017-18.

 
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