KATHMANDU. Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has recently found himself embroiled in intense controversy and public criticism due to his own statements and past social media posts. Amid the communal tensions that flared up in Terai-Madhesh, serious questions have been raised against him after his stern warning to his own party workers and his past protection of an illegal Rohingya refugee camp in Kathmandu suddenly came to light.
President Gagan Thapa had protected the Rohingyas during his tenure as General Secretary. Currently, he serves as President. His policy of being harsh toward his own party workers while demonstrating special sympathy for illegal refugees is facing widespread opposition on social media.
Terai Tensions and President Thapa's 'Aggressive' Directives
Following the tragic incident in Kapantanganj, Sunsari, and the subsequent tense situation in various parts of Madhesh, President Thapa has taken aggressive political moves. He organized a virtual meeting with central, provincial, and district party colleagues from affected areas, including Madhesh Province, Sunsari, and Morang, alongside the Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, MPs, and local representatives.
Issuing clear directives during the meeting regarding the duties of provincial and local governments as well as party committees, Thapa warned that party workers engaging in Hindu movements or any communal movements in the Terai would be directly expelled from the party. Thapa's harsh stance against his own Hindu-leaning and local workers, taken in the name of maintaining internal party discipline and social harmony, has sparked discontent within the party.
That 2020 Post: 'Special' Sympathy Shown to Rohingyas
As Thapa threatens action against his own cadres, an old Facebook status posted by him on March 29, 2020, has gone viral again on social media.
At that time, Thapa had written:
"Thank you to Dr. Lhamo Yangchen Sherpa and the Ipas Nepal team for helping supply food items to the Rohingya camp in Kapan. We sincerely appreciate your contribution to these families during this time of crisis."
This post, expressing gratitude to the organization delivering relief to Rohingya refugees living in Kapan—which falls under Kathmandu Constituency No. 4 (Gagan Thapa's own electoral constituency)—has now created a new stir.
Serious Questions and Public Outrage on Social Media
With this old post going viral, general citizens and political analysts on social media have been showering Thapa with questions.
Social media user Pushpa Raj Purush shared Thapa's post, writing:
"Ah, so this is how the Rohingyas were kept.? The state must keep them under surveillance."
Mainly, the following questions are currently being raised on social media:
Electoral Constituency and Refugee Encounters: Did Gagan Thapa himself provide political protection to keep the Rohingyas in his constituency, Kapan?
Doubts Over the Government's Role: When Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak was Home Minister, did the government itself provide aid to the Rohingyas under the direction and protection of then-General Secretary Thapa?
Serious Allegations of Political Double Standards
Gagan Thapa faces allegations of threatening expulsion against his own party workers who speak out on domestic religious, cultural, and local issues, while consistently protecting and promoting foreign Rohingya refugees, who are considered highly sensitive from a national security perspective.
Was this unusual 'generosity' toward foreign refugees by the President—who lectures on harmony in the Terai while cracking down on his own cadres—merely humanitarian assistance, or was there a strategic interest hidden behind it? Ordinary citizens and loyal Congress workers are now seeking clear answers to this question.
