KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is currently in the USA. He went there to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, but did not attend a welcome program organized by the Nepali community associations in New York on Sunday. That day, Prime Minister Oli was scheduled to interact with the Nepalis present there. However, the Nepali Consulate General in New York issued a statement citing security sensitivities as the reason for the cancellation of the program, leading to various comments and discussions on the matter.
While Prime Minister Oli is in America, the police arrested former DIG and former director of Gorkha Media Network, Chhabilal Joshi, following a directive from the home ministry to implement the report of the parliamentary special committee on cooperative fraud. After Joshi's arrest, Rabi Lamichhane, the chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who is also implicated in the cooperative fraud, called on his supporters to gather at the party office to protest, claiming that an attempt was being made to arrest him as well. He urged his supporters abroad to rally against this while warning Prime Minister Oli not to overlook the situation from New York. The parliamentary committee has also recommended action against Lamichhane, who has been under police surveillance in connection with the cooperative fraud case.
The behavior of some Nepalis in America against Prime Minister Oli, who is there to represent Nepal at an international forum, has tarnished the nation’s image. Many Nepalis residing there disapprove of the rumors spread about Oli on social media. Unfounded rumors circulated on social media regarding Prime Minister Oli's visit to America and his absence from an event there. It was rumored that Oli did not attend the program organized by Nepalis-affiliated organizations in New York. Additionally, claims emerged on social media that he was shown black flags and had a garland of shoes placed around his neck. However, both Prime Minister Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who is also in the US, had informed the organizers a few hours earlier that they would not be able to attend the event.
Prime Minister Oli was occupied with a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly before the event organized by Nepali organizations began. The meeting, initially scheduled for 30 minutes, extended to 45 minutes. This was the reason Prime Minister Oli was unable to attend the event.
Troubling trend of discrediting democratically elected leaders
The Nepali Consulate in the US stated that Prime Minister Oli was engaged in sideline meetings and would not attend the event, taking security sensitivities into consideration. After the issue of security sensitivities was raised, Nepalis in America expressed their displeasure, stating that "this is not a good message."
Radhakrishna Deuja, who has been living in America for a long time but has a keen interest in Nepali politics, commented that the behavior of preventing Prime Minister Oli from participating in the event was inappropriate. "There may be personal or party disagreements with the Prime Minister or ministers, but one should not show disrespect, humiliation, or mistreatment while they are representing the country at an international platform," he stated.
He expressed disappointment over the news that the event organized to honor and welcome Prime Minister KP Oli and Foreign Minister Deuba, who came to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, was postponed at the last minute citing security reasons.
"I have always been a critic of Prime Minister KP Oli. I am still dissatisfied with his unconstitutional thinking and the activities of those around him who support corruption and immorality. There seems to be no intention to correct these issues. Therefore, my criticism will continue; however, that does not mean I will curse or insult them wherever I see them," he said.
Similarly, former journalist Ramchandra Bhatt, who has been living in America, expressed his disagreement with the behavior of some Nepalis in America directed towards Prime Minister Oli on social media.
"Our duty is to welcome every person coming from Nepal, regardless of whether they are political figures, social or administrative individuals, military or police officials, or ordinary citizens. Even if we cannot be physically present, we should express our goodwill and hope that they understand the technologies and developments of developed countries, and strive to implement them in Nepal," Bhatt stated on social media.
"Why have we lagged behind in our culture when we come to a country considered the most developed in the world and praise its system? Right now, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba of Nepal, who are in New York, are our guests. Even if Rabi Lamichhane, who is embroiled in a cooperative scandal, comes to America, he is still a guest for us. We must give them the appropriate respect, but what happened in New York yesterday was not in the interest of the diaspora."
Engineer Krishna Kusum, currently in America, stated that attempts to mistreat Prime Minister Oli have embroiled the Nepali diaspora in controversy. According to him, opposing a Prime Minister who represents Nepal on foreign soil is not in the national interest, and any disagreements can be expressed within the country.
The Nepali diaspora should unite on national issues. Insulting the Prime Minister in a foreign country is not a personal matter; it is a national issue and an affront to the nation. While personal disagreements may exist, the behavior of the Nepali community toward the Prime Minister at the United Nations General Assembly is unacceptable," said Engineer Kusum. "Indian citizens may also disagree with Narendra Modi, but they express their views while also listening to the Prime Minister," Kusum added.
Prime Minister Oli and Foreign Minister Deuba are currently in New York, leading the Nepali delegation to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Throughout Monday, false reports circulated on social media claiming that shoes were thrown at Prime Minister Oli.
