A US city has canceled a sister-city agreement with the fictional nation of "Kailasa" claimed by the fugitive godman Nithyananda's organization to be recognized by Washington. The city in question, Newark, was reportedly duped as part of a disinformation campaign promoting the legitimacy of the so-called United States of Kailasa (USK) nation established by Nithyananda, who fled India in 2019 after facing charges of rape and abduction.
Newark's Mayor Ras Baraka and other city leaders were present at the signing ceremony for the agreement, which has since been revoked. This incident is not the first time that cities and states in the US have become involved in controversies relating to India. For instance, last year, the Connecticut General Assembly issued a citation recognizing the 36th anniversary of the declaration of Sikh independence" under the influence of Khalistanis.
A photo on the "USK" website shows Mayor Baraka signing the now-canceled agreement with a woman wearing a turban, a pendant on her forehead, and multiple necklaces. Another woman dressed similarly was also present. Newark is the largest city in New Jersey. While New Jersey has the third highest number of Asian-Indians in the US, the population in Newark is comparatively small compared to other areas of the state.
