KATHMANDU, JUNE 22

"When it concerns country's independence or sovreignty, I won't abide by any law or the court"

Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Balen Shah, courted controversy by writing on his Facebook wall that he would not comply with the High Court order to allow the screening of Indian films in cinema halls across Kathmandu.

Shah made this remark the day Patan High Court issued a shortterm interim order against his decision to prohibit screening of Indian films in Kathmandu metropolis unless the maker of the Indian film 'Adipurush' corrected a dialogue where 'Sita is mentioned as the daughter of India.' The film maker had issued a press release on June 18 saying "At the outset, we would like to apologise if we have hurt the sentiments of the people of Nepal in any way."

He further said: "As Indians, the respect for women all over the world is of utmost importance to us. We request you to view the film in its artistic form and support the intention of reaching out to a larger audience to create interest in our history."

Shah was not satisfied with the apology.

In response to a writ petition filed by Nepal Motion Picture Association against Kathmandu metropolis, Patan High Court stated in its order that the screening of films, including Hindi films, should not be halted. The court has summoned both sides on June 27 when the court, after hearing arguments from both sides, will decide whether or not it should continue the interim order in the case. The court has also issued a show cause notice to the defendant to furnish written reply within 15 days.

Shah wrote in his Facebook post: When it concerns sovereignty and independence of the country, I won't abide by any law or the court. The writer of the film said Nepal was under Indian occupation.

This shows the motive. If the Government of Nepal calls it a stunt and if the court allows screening of films, then it implies that Nepal was under Indian occupation and the court and the government are slaves. I am ready to face any consequence, but I won't allow the screening of Hindi films.

Shah's bizarre remarks against the court and the government came on the same day that Patan High Court, in response to a writ petition filed by Shah against the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for issuing a show cause notice to him, stayed CAAN's move.

CAAN had issued a show cause notice to Shah for ordering the wire fencing of Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu Metropolitan City 9 dismantled without informing the regulatory body.

Shah often courts controversy by asserting his power as mayor of the largest metropolitan city and taking aggressive action to enforce rules.

His move of removing landless people from public land around Kathmandu drew flak from political parties and civil society members.

In April, Shah ordered his staff not to collect garbage from Singha Durbar to teach the federal government a lesson for the latter's failure to coordinate with the KMC.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 23, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.