Newark was not the only one, self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda’s ‘United States of Kailasa’ has duped at least 30 American cities that signed agreements for a “cultural partnership” with the so-called nation, a media report has said.
The revelation comes days after the city of Newark in the US state of New Jersey said it rescinded a “sister-city” agreement with the fictional country, inked in January this year.
According to its website, there are more than 30 cities in the US that have signed a cultural partnership with the fake nation, including Richmond, Virginia, Dayton, Ohio, Buena Park, Florida and others spread all over the map, Fox News anchor Jesse Watters said during a prime time television show.
Detailing the findings, Watters said that “we are finding out the supreme fake pontiff” has a “long list of cities he has duped. "And so far most of the cities have confirmed these proclamations are in fact true,” he added.
Fox News blamed the cities for not even “googling” any information about the fake nation. “If someone wants a proclamation, someone gets a proclamation. They'll just say you're an exotic Hindu Island and they’ll name a street after you,” the anchor said.
Fox News reported that it was not just mayors or city councils who are falling for the fake nation but "people running the federal government” were falling too. According to the self-styled guru, the anchor highlighted, two members of the Congress have also given Kailasa “special congressional recognition”.
“So, the person who decides what we spend our tax dollars on just got duped by an alleged rapist guru with a fake country,” Watters said.
Who is Nithyananda?
Swami Nityananda, whose mind-bending spiritual homilies wrapped in a sheen of pseudo-science has provided much mirth on social media, is an Indian fugitive wanted on several charges of rape and sexual assault – allegations he denies.
He claims to have created the so-called country known as the ‘United States of Kailasa (USK)’, also called ‘Kailasa’, in 2019.
According to its (so-called) official website, ‘Kailasa’ is a movement ''founded and spearheaded by members of the Hindu Adi Shaivite minority community from Canada, the United States and other countries and is created for and offers a safe haven to all the world's practising, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, caste, or creed, where they can peacefully live and express their spirituality, arts, and culture free from denigration, interference and violence.”
It counts "two billion practising Hindus" among its population.
Where is Kailasa? Is it real?
The United Nations does not recognise ‘Kailasa’ as a country and to date, there is no clarity if the country is fictional or actually exists. However, Nithyananda's followers keep on posting videos on social media, suggesting there are developments going on in the country.
Although believed to be fictional, USK’s Twitter handle has called for applications for e-visa for e-citizenship. The website also claims to have a flag, an economic system driven by gold currency, an emblem as well as a passport.
Last month, the representatives of ‘Kailasa’ were even seen at two UN public meetings in Geneva in a bid to gain recognition and acceptance at an international forum.
(With PTI inputs)
