Kathmandu, Aug. 10: Hari Dhakal, a lawmaker from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has stood by his controversial call to rename Singha Durbar, saying the lion is a symbol of violence, arrogance, and rulers, not kindness and compassion. Instead, the building should be called ‘Anam Nagar Durbar’ because it is situated near the locality called Anam Nagar.
Dhakal stirred controversy after suggesting at a public event that Singha Durbar, Nepal’s main administrative complex, should be renamed. He argued that the name was inappropriate for Nepal because lions are not found in Nepal.
His remarks triggered widespread criticism, particularly on social media, with many questioning his understanding of the historical and symbolic significance of the name Singha Durbar.
Responding to the backlash on Sunday, Dhakal said he remained firm on his argument.
“I stand by my argument. A lion is not a symbol of kindness and compassion,” he wrote. “A lion is a symbol of violence, arrogance, and rulers.”
Dhakal said he had seen a rare video on social media showing a deer expressing deep affection for a lion. He also referred to the history of Singha Durbar’s construction, saying he had long been aware of the exploitation of workers involved in building the palace.
“Today, I saw on social media a rare scene of a deer showing immense love for a lion. I did not learn today about the history of the exploitation of workers during the construction of that palace. I had read about it some time ago,” he wrote.
Dhakal said his remarks were intended to question whether the character and conduct of the country’s main administrative center should reflect the symbolism associated with its name. He described his argument as one related to the “legacy of truth.”
He also pointed out that many places had been renamed during earlier political changes in Nepal, suggesting that Singha Durbar could likewise have been given a different name.
The controversy has added to the debate over the symbolism of Nepal’s major state institutions, with Dhakal’s remarks drawing both criticism and discussion on social media.
People’s News Monitoring Service
Login to add a comment