China Seeks Clarification After Video Allegedly Shows Books by Xi Jinping Burned at Nepal College

Kathmandu. For the past few days, a video has gone viral on social media claiming that a book written by Chinese President Xi Jinping was burned on the premises of Manmohan Technical College in Biratnagar, Morang.

China has also shown interest in the video, which was publicized as showing the burning of a book. Following the video's virality, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal sought clarification through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, through its embassy, inquired about the video and demanded action if the video is found to be true. "The embassy has informally inquired about why the book was burned and who burned it," said an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "China has shown interest in investigating the matter."

The college, named after UML leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari, reportedly has over a thousand books written by Chinese President Xi.

However, CPN-UML leader from Koshi Province, Binod Dhakal, states that the propaganda suggesting the book written by Chinese President Xi was intentionally burned is untrue.

"After the video went viral, I also checked with the campus administration, but I found the reality to be different," Dhakal told Ratopati. "Upon inquiry there, it was found that old newspapers and unusable documents were being burned during the process of cleaning garbage and bushes within the campus premises."

Leader Dhakal stated that during that process, some books damaged by termites and rendered unreadable were also burned, which he learned after his investigation.

"Some books damaged by termites and unreadable were burned during the process of burning garbage. However, it would have been better if the books had not been burned. Although there was carelessness in that, it was not an intentional burning of Xi's books."

SP Kavita Katwal of the District Police Office, Morang, stated on Friday that the police deployed security personnel to provide security after the crowd increased at the college.

Morang Chief District Officer Yuvraj Kattel stated that written information regarding the incident and the video has been sought from the college administration.

"We have asked the college for a written response about what happened in the incident," said Chief District Officer Kattel. "Once the response arrives, we will know what the incident is about."