Nepal PM says ‘Ram was not Indian’, sparks debate

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday sparked a new debate by stating that ‘Ram was not Indian’ and claiming that Lord Rama, along with Lord Shiva and Sage Vishwamitra, were born in Nepal, quoting the Ramayana written by Valmiki, as per reports.

Oli reportedly made these remarks while speaking at a party event organised by CPN-UML’s tourism wing, stating that Lord Rama belongs to Nepalese soil.

He further said that he does not know what the region was called during the time of Lord Rama’s birth, but that region now lies within Nepal's borders.

Oli also reportedly remarked that Nepal does not actively promote this belief, hesitating to speak about it or preach it, possibly because it feels awkward.

He clarified that he is not fabricating these facts but that it is mentioned in the Ramayana written by Valmiki, where it is stated that Vishwamitra is from Chatara and that he taught Lakshmana after Ram crossed the Koshi River and headed west.

It is noteworthy that in 2020, Oli had also claimed that the real Ayodhya is in Thori, Nepal.