Complaint Lodged Against Minister Kirati for Alleged Religious Insensitivity

Dhruva Raj Luitel, a resident of Kathmandu, has filed a formal complaint against Sudan Kirati, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation in Nepal, at the District Police Circle in Teku. The complaint alleges that Minister Kirati’s recent statements have caused harm to religious sentiments, sparking legal action against him.

The complaint, registered by Luitel, focuses on Minister Kiranti’s remarks made during a program meeting in Kathmandu. Kirati declared, “To claim non-acceptance of the constitution by Hindus is tantamount to treason. Traitors will be handcuffed and put in jail.”

Luitel contends in the police report that Minister Kiranti, entrusted with overseeing the culture and tourism sector, acted irresponsibly by using his speech to denigrate a religion with a longstanding existence and disparaging religions other than Christianity.

The filed complaint specifically accuses Kiranti of spreading religious prejudice by labeling non-Christians as traitors, a violation of the legal mandate prohibiting the infliction of emotional distress based on caste, sect, or class.

Moreover, the complaint highlights the viral dissemination of Kiranti’s speech on social media platforms. It emphasizes that Kiranti, by masquerading as a Christian preacher and displaying discriminatory behavior toward other Vedic Sanatan religions, has allegedly violated Section 156(1) of the Civil Crimes Code of 2074 A.D.

In seeking redress, the complainant has invoked Section 156(2) of the Act, demanding a three-year imprisonment term and a fine of 20,000 rupees for the alleged offense.

The incident has stirred controversy, raising questions about the boundaries of freedom of speech and the responsibilities of public officials, especially those in charge of cultural and tourism affairs in a diverse and religiously pluralistic society like Nepal. The legal proceedings will shed light on the balance between freedom of expression and the prevention of religious discrimination in the country.