A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with representatives of a fictional country led by a fugitive Indian guru.
The revelation sparked a scandal – and lots of social media mockery – in Paraguay, but it’s not the first time the self-described representatives of the “United States of Kailasa” have duped international politicians.
In February 2023, they managed to participate in two United Nations committee meetings in Geneva, and have also signed agreements with local leaders in the USA and Canada. In March, Newark City Hall in New Jersey acknowledged it had been scammed when it signed a sister city agreement with Kailasa.
Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguay’s Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a “proclamation” with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.
Among other things, the Oct. 16 “proclamation” expressed a “sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organisations, including, among others, the United Nations,” according to a copy of the agreement posted on social media.
Representatives of the fictional country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Giménez, Chamorro said in a radio interview.
During the interview, Chamorro recognised he didn’t know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterised as a “memorandum of understanding” because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation.
Photos posted in Kailasa’s social media accounts also showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the María Antonia and Karpai municipalities. The social media account celebrated each of these signings.
On Kailasa’s website, the fictional country is described as the “revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world.” It is led by a self-styled guru and cult leader, Nithyananda, who has made a series of bizarre claims including that he is a “godman”, can delay sunrise for up to 40 minutes, and can make cows speak in both Tamil and Sanskrit.
Nithyananda is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault, rape, child kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal intimidation. His whereabouts are currently unknown.
