Former PM Oli Faces Backlash in Home Constituency Over 'Dung Cake' Remarks

Biratnagar. CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had recently stated that Jhapa-5, where he contests elections, is clean and tidy, unlike areas like Mahottari and Dhanusha where cow dung cakes (guitha) are burned. However, Oli's statements now appear to be backfiring on him.

In an interview with a television channel some time ago, Oli had implied that his constituency did not have the situation where dung cakes were burned. "Damak is among the clean municipalities, among the organized municipalities. It is not in the state of Mahottari-Dhanusha; it is much more advanced than that," he said, hinting at his competitor, Rastriya Swatantra Party's senior leader Balen Shah, "Cleanliness is separate. He comes from that culture, in this culture... I don't know if he will teach us to burn dung cakes here or what. This place is very advanced... He should learn from here, rather than teaching anything here. We can see what he has learned in Kathmandu itself..."

Oli's very words have reportedly upset indigenous communities like the Tajpuria and Rajbanshi in Gauriganj, Gauradaha, and Kamal Rural Municipalities, which fall under his constituency. Locals there even gifted dung cakes to Sabina Kafle, the wife of Balen Shah. "This is our tradition. Someone has complained about our dung cakes. That's why we are trying to give this gift to Balen Shah's wife," said one woman while presenting the dung cake gift.

Dilli Dhungana, a UML supporter from Gauriganj, also stated that KP Sharma Oli's comments on dung cakes have had an impact. "He spoke things he shouldn't have. We have also started burning dung cakes. Those who have been burning them are naturally annoyed," Dhungana said.

Kaliprasad Tajpuriya from Gauradaha-8 stated that dung cakes are used not only for energy but also for burning incense during worship rituals. "The making of dung cakes starts from Kartik (mid-October to mid-November). They keep making them until the end of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May). Only when it starts raining is the cow dung piled up in the manure pit," he said. "For burning incense during worship, the fire from a dung cake is even better. The fire and incense from dung cakes are needed for any worship, funerals, weddings, and even for Satyanarayan Puja."

Tajpuriya is displeased with Oli's derogatory remarks concerning a subject related to their tradition and culture.

Upon visiting almost all wards in Gauradaha 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8, and in Gauriganj, one can see plenty of dung cakes being made and dried. These dung cakes are made by mixing straw and hay with cow, ox, or buffalo dung. The dung prepared this way is dried in the sun to make it ready for burning. Burning dung cakes is not considered good for health. Health experts say that because the fire does not ignite quickly and emits a lot of smoke once lit, it seriously affects health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as respiratory issues, tuberculosis, and cataracts.