Nepal to excavate ‘Lord Ram’s real birthplace’

■ Archaeological dept plans surveys in Thori after Oli claims

Kathmandu, July 17: Nepal’s archaeological department plans to start studies and excavation in Thori in the country’s south after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s claim that it is the “real birthplace” of Lord Ram, according to a media report.

Several top Nepalese political leaders slammed Mr Oli for making “senseless and irrelevant” remarks that Lord Ram was born in Thori and the real Ayodhya lies in Nepal. They have asked him to withdraw his controversial statement.

Following Mr Oli’s remarks, the department of archaeology (DoA) has been discussing a possible archeological study in the area with different ministries, My Republica newspaper reported.

“The department has been holding several meetings with different ministries to discuss the possibility of starting archaeological studies in Thori of Birgunj,” it quoted Ram Bahadur Kunwar, the spokesperson for the DoA, as saying.

DoA director-general Damodar Gautam said the department is serious about conducting archaeological studies in Thori after Mr Oli’s statement. “It is our responsibility to carry out a study after such statements by the Prime Minister. Having said that, I cannot say that we have enough bases to prove that Ayodhya is in Nepal… The department will discuss with experts and will come to a conclusion soon,” he said.

It is our responsibility to carry out a study after such statements by the Prime Minister. Having said that, I cannot say that we have enough bases to prove that Ayodhya is in Nepal The department will discuss with experts and will come to a conclusion soon.

— Gautam Damodar, DoA director general