Kathmandu — Dr. Rajiv Jha, a Madhesi-origin professor based in China, has deactivated his Facebook account after launching a series of personal and derogatory remarks against Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) and his wife. The professor’s offensive comments toward the popular mayor’s family have placed him at the center of widespread criticism.

Dr. Jha, who has been involved in research and academia in China for several years, is known in Nepal as a prominent “pro-China lobbyist.” He has long faced allegations of actively promoting China’s political interests within Nepal.

According to reports, Dr. Jha had previously threatened media outlets in Nepal for publishing news critical of China. During a meeting at the Press Council Nepal, he reportedly warned journalists, saying, “China can give life — and it can take life too.”

He has also been accused of pressuring Nepali media not to report on Chinese military activities and border encroachments in the Humla region. In another controversial statement four years ago, he allegedly warned that “if the Government of Nepal publishes the border encroachment report, China might launch missiles.”

His latest Facebook post has reignited debate and outrage. After personally attacking Mayor Balen and his wife, social media erupted with criticism, with many describing him as “a radical propagandist hiding behind the mask of a scholar.”

Although Dr. Jha has now deactivated his Facebook account, screenshots of his post continue to circulate across multiple platforms. Analysts have described the episode as “a dangerous mix of foreign influence and personal hostility”—reflecting growing concerns over China’s soft-power presence and public discourse in Nepal.

Balendra Shah Dr. Rajiv Jha