Nithyananda's 'Kailasa' cons 30 US cities with 'sister-city' scam: Report
New York, Mar 17: Self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda's "United States of Kailasa" has signed a "cultural partnership" with over 30 American cities, a media report has said, days after the city of Newark in the US state of New Jersey said it rescinded a "sister-city" agreement with the fictional country.
The sister-city agreement between Newark and the fake "United States of Kailasa" was inked on January 12 this year and the signing ceremony took place at City Hall in Newark.
Nityananda, whose mind-bending spiritual homilies wrapped in a sheen of pseudo-science has provided much mirth on social media, claims to have set up a country called the "United States of Kailasa" in 2019.
According to its website, there are over 30 American cities that have signed a cultural partnership with the fake nation of Kailasa --- cities from Richmond, Virginia to Dayton, Ohio, to Buena Park, Florida literally all over the map.
A report in Fox News on Thursday said that "we are finding out the supreme fake pontiff" has a "long list of cities that he's duped.
It said that it reached out to some of the cities in the US for a reaction on signing an agreement with the fake nation.
"And so far most of the cities have confirmed these proclamations are in fact true," the report said.
Jacksonville, North Carolina told Fox News: "Our proclamations with Kailasa are not an endorsement. They are a response to a request and we do not verify the information that is requested."
Fox News blamed the cities for not "googling" for information about the fake nation.
"If someone wants a proclamation, someone gets a proclamation. They'll just say you're an exotic Hindu Island and they'll name a street after you," the Fox News anchor said.
The report added that it's not just mayors or city councils but "people running the federal government" who are falling for the fake nation too.
It added that according to the fake guru, two members of the Congress have given Kailasa "special congressional recognition."
One of them is Congresswoman Norma Torres of California, who is on the House Appropriations Committee.
"So, the person who decides what we spend our tax dollars on just got duped by an alleged rapist guru with a fake country," the Fox News anchor said.
Republican Troy Balderson from Ohio also presented "his divine holiness and pontiff of Hinduism congressional recognition."
Earlier this month, Press Secretary in the Department of Communications, City of Newark, Susan Garofalo had told PTI in an email that as soon as "we learned about the circumstances surrounding Kailasa, the City of Newark immediately took action and rescinded the sister city agreement" on January 18.
"Based on deception, the ceremony was groundless and void Although this was a regrettable incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support, and mutual respect," Garofalo said.
Newark Councilman at Large Luis Quintana sponsored the motion to rescind the agreement.
He said during official proceedings that going forward any city entering into a sister city agreement "must be in good standards of human rights.
"We cannot bring Sister Cities International into an issue where there is controversy. This is an oversight, cannot happen any longer," he said, adding that Newark cannot put itself in a situation where there is a sister city that has no human rights.
He had said going forward, it must be ensured that while sister cities are encouraged, agreements cannot be entered into with "governments that don't have human rights."
The Fox News report quoted a Newark resident to say that the sister-city agreement with a fake nation was an embarrassing episode for the city. "I think that's embarrassing that he didn't do his background research before entertaining them."
Last month, USK representatives attended two UN public meetings in Geneva - a general discussion on Equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems' organised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on February 22, and the general discussion on the General Comment on economic, social cultural rights and sustainable development on February 24, hosted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).
Responding to questions on the United States of Kailasa's participation at the UN forums, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had said registration for such public events is open to NGOs and the general public.
"Anyone can submit information to the treaty bodies, who will use their judgment to determine the credibility of the submissions received."
"On the day of the CEDAW general discussion, USK members were prevented from distributing promotional material in front of and inside the conference room. Their written submission to CEDAW will not be published by the Committee as it is irrelevant to the topic of the general discussion," OHCHR had said.
Nithyananda is wanted in India on several charges of rape and sexual assault allegations he denies.
The Kailasa website counts "two billion practising Hindus" among its population.
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Karnataka govt tables bill in Assembly that prohibits social boycott, violators to face 3 yrs jail
Belagavi (PTI): Karnataka government on Thursday tabled a bill in the Assembly that prohibits and criminalises social boycott of a person or a group of persons, including their family, especially by "caste panchayats".
The bill also provides for a jail term of up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for violation.
The 'Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025' that was tabled in the Assembly by Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa lists 20 forms of social boycotts, which includes refusal to deal with, work for hire or do business; denying opportunities, including access to services or contractual opportunities for rendering services.
Also, obstruction from participation in social, religious or community functions, congregations, assembly, meeting or procession; committing social ostracism on any grounds; blocking access to facilities; cutting-off of ties; among others.
As per the bill, it has been observed that the unconstitutional practices such as boycotts, imposition of various punishments by extra judicial bodies such as caste or community panchayats etc., are still in practice in various communities in the state, resulting in great harassment to individuals or groups in leading their lives with dignity.
Stating that this has adverse effects on the social life of the community and has given rise to ill feeling and disharmony in the society, it said, "it is therefore necessary to eradicate these evil and unconstitutional practices from the society."
The bill further states that the existing laws are found to be inadequate in dealing with such practices, and the government therefore considers it expedient to enact a legislation.
"It is accordingly proposed to prevent the evil practices of imposition of social boycott, social discrimination and social disabilities at various levels by caste or community panchayats or by its members and prescribe punishment for such social boycott. It is also proposed to appoint the social boycott prohibition officer," it said.
The bill makes it clear that social boycott is prohibited and its commission and practice shall be an offence.
"Any person who imposes or causes to impose or practice any social boycott on any member of his community, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment of either description, which may be extended to three years or with fine which may be extended to rupees one lakh or with both," he said.
It said, any assembly or congregation of persons to discuss imposing a social boycott will be "unlawful" and attract a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
It further says that every person who aids or abets the commission of an offence shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs one lakh or with both.
Any offences punishable in this proposed legislation shall be cognizable and bailable.
The bill provides for the government to appoint a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to detect offences.
The government also tabled "The Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Assembly on Thursday.
The bill tabled by Minister Mahadevappa on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar amends the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 to include the members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assembly and State Legislative Council as members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
It also provides for including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department, and the Additional Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary Finance Department as ex-officio members of the authority. Also to appoint the Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development Department as a member of the executive committee.
It also provides for -- the re-division of wards in respect of newly incorporated local areas to be carried out within a specified period; bringing clarity to the conduct of elections for newly added local areas to the Greater Bengaluru region; among other things.
