KATHMANDU: The news that $500,000 was allegedly spent to promote atheism in Nepal has sparked discussions after being raised by an American lawmaker.

Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and Republican lawmaker from Florida, recently claimed that $500,000 had been used to spread ‘atheism’ in Nepal.

US President Donald Trump, in connection with the suspension of activities by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), revealed this information during an appearance on CBS journalist Margaret Brennan’s Face the Nation program.

Mast publicly disclosed how much money had been spent in various countries, including Nepal, to promote ‘atheism’.

Following the news, many people have been sharing information on social media about which organizations received how much money from USAID.

The list of organizations receiving funding includes Haribansha Acharya and Madan Krishna Shrestha’s organization, Maha Sanchar.

Maha Sanchar is facing allegations of anti-Hindu activities due to taking money from USAID to produce a teleserial.

The Maha couple is specifically accused of depicting a Brahmin performing “Shraddha”, a ritual, while consuming alcohol and of promoting Christianity.

However, Maha Sanchar has denied these allegations. Artist Haribansha Acharya stated that they are not against any religion and that some individuals and groups are deliberately spreading misinformation.

“Republicanism came to Nepal. Some people believe that they brought the republic. We were not in a position to bring the republic. We did not bring it,” says Haribansha.

“Later, republicanism came. Our job is to be humorous. We satirized the then system even during the Panchayat period.”

Haribansha concludes that some people are now expressing anger due to the misconception that the republic came about because of the satire by the Maha couple. He says that people who do not like them are deliberately spreading confusion.

He argues that it is incorrect to say that accepting USAID’s support is wrong. He believes that taking assistance from a legitimate organization in a transparent manner for good work is not wrong.

“The government itself has run a program in Nepal to administer polio drops and vaccinations with the help of USAID. If we look at this, there is probably no person whose body has not been affected by USAID money,” he adds.

“The person who is commenting that we are wrong, himself and his children, mother, and sister have the vaccine funded by USAID in their bodies. There are polio drops.”

He explains that USAID issued a ‘tender’ and funded the telefilm they produced as part of a competition.

Maha Sanchar created 52 parts of the teleserial ‘Madan Bahadur Hari Bahadur’ on conflict resolution, for which they were awarded a tender of Rs 30 million.

“We also made polio drops, rubella, and some other PSAs. We made them so that you would make them effective,” says Haribansha.

“We created a 37-hour teleserial with the money from the tender. It is being misrepresented. Gradually, all of this will become clear.”

He says that he does not understand why the issue of religion has come up.

Acharya adds that the teleserial ‘Shradhha’ was first shown at the Gaijatra festival held at Pragya Bhavan in 2034 BS.

“King Birendra and everyone came to watch this show. I also received a gold medal for this,” he recalls.

“After modifying it, we later showed it as the Shraddha of the Panchayat. Work is currently being done to cut some clips of it and link it to religion to spread confusion. This will become clear one day.”

He states that the clip currently going viral on social media was made in 2054 BS.

The subject was first shown in 2034 BS and then filmed again seven years after the collapse of the Panchayat.

He emphasizes that satire, which was not done with bad intentions, should not be misrepresented.

However, he complains that some people and groups are trying to misinterpret it. He believes that a campaign is underway to tarnish the image of the Maha Jodi.

Saying that the then king also knew how the republic came about, Haribansha states, “Maybe he doesn’t have any complaints with us either. The king clearly knows how the republic came to Nepal better than we did.”

He believes that people who showed more loyalty to the then king may have launched a campaign against Maha Sanchar. Haribansha is confident that they did nothing wrong.

“At a time like this, there is no point in telling every Nepali citizen that we are such and such a person or organization. This is something for the people to evaluate themselves,” Haribansha adds.

“The reality will become clear one day.”

He says that the video content produced under USAID’s sponsorship will speak for itself.

“How did it become for or against religion when making content that conveys the message of resolving conflicts, going through the peace process, vaccinating, and giving polio drops to children?” he asks.

He is confident that the wrong campaign will soon fail, as time will clarify many things and the people are capable of evaluating for themselves.

He urges people to stop the misinterpretation of the picture of a Christian placed in the ‘offer’ on the occasion of the New Year.

“On the occasion of the New Year or any festival, it is still placed in supermarkets and shops according to the context,” he adds. “There is a misinterpretation going on, which is wrong in itself.”