A video claiming Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, expressed concerns about Nepal’s identity and future has now gone viral on social media. On April 3, 2023, Facebook user Arjun Giri “Abiral” posted a 12-minute video clip implying that it shows a recent speech of the Chief Minister. The video has been viewed 460,000 times and has been shared more than 6,000 times. The viral video shows a boom of Sagarmatha Television. A banner indicates the clip was from an international conference of Hindus in 2016.
On April 3, Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), issued a statement claiming that Yogi Adityanath said Nepal should be made a Hindu nation at the World Hindu Conference held on the same day.
“We have taken serious note of the statement made by Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, that Nepal should return to monarchy and Hinduism at the World Hindu Conference,” the statement said. Ratopati published news based on the statement. The outlet reported Yogi Adityanath as saying that Nepal should return to monarchy and Hinduism, to which the Maoist party objected. Ratopati failed to independently report where and when Yogi Adityanath made the statement.
Did Yogi Adityanath advocate for Nepal’s return to monarchy and Hinduism in a recent Hindu conference in Nepal?
Six-year-old video
The video, which was posted by Facebook user Arjun Giri “Abiral” on April 3, 2023, shows a speech by Yogi Adityanath at the “International Grand Hindu Conference”. The event took place in the Pashupati area of Kathmandu on October 26, 2016. In his speech, Yogi Adityanath said Nepal should return to monarchy and a Hindu nation.
Nepal magazine had featured the event in its cover story at the time. Ekantipur had published a photo feature.
There is no evidence that Yogi Adityanath made similar statements at a recent World Hindu Conference in Butwal as claimed by the Maoist politician Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ in a statement issued on April 3, 2023.
Nepal Check searched YouTube and Google using relevant keywords, but could not find news or information about his speech in the said event.
It appears that Biplav’s statement was based on the viral video which recently resurfaced on Facebook. It coincided with the convention of the World Hindu Federation of Nepal held on April 3 in Butwal. However, there is no evidence that Yogi Adityanath participated in the convention or made any statements there.
Therefore, Nepal Check has concluded that the claim made in the viral video and Biplav’s statement is misleading.
| Claim | Claimed by | Nepal Check Verdict |
| Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, advocated for Nepal’s return to monarchy and Hinduism at a recent Hindu conference in Nepal. | Social media users, Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ and Ratopati | Misleading |
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