Kathmandu — Dr. Rajiv Jha, a professor of Madhesi origin currently engaged in research in China, has sparked controversy after making an aggressive social media post against Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen).

On his personal Facebook account, Dr. Jha wrote, “Kathmandu ko pohar Balen ko ghar agadi rakhnu parcha. Tyasko budi VIP aru k?” (“The garbage of Kathmandu should be dumped in front of Balen’s house. What else is his wife — some kind of VIP?) — a remark widely criticized for targeting not only Balen but also his wife, making it a personal attack.

Many have condemned Dr. Jha’s words as “an indecent expression from an academic figure.” Some described it as “the outburst of an unbalanced scholar,” while others interpreted it as “jealousy toward Balen’s growing popularity.”

Despite being at the center of multiple controversies, Mayor Balen continues to command strong public support on social media — and this incident appears to have further amplified sympathy in his favor.