Calls grow in Nepal for restoration of Hindu state

Nepal Sees Growing Call for Restoration of Hindu State

Kathmandu, Feb 21 (IANS) – Nepal is witnessing a growing call for the restoration of the Hindu state. The country transitioned to a federal, secular, and democratic identity in 2008 after the CPN (Maoist) decided to join the political mainstream, following a decade-long “people’s war” in 2006.

Leaders of major political parties, including the Nepali Congress, are calling for the restoration of the Hindu state in Nepal by establishing the ‘Vaidik Sanatan Hindu State.’ The ongoing 14th ‘Mahasamiti’ meeting in Kathmandu has seen as many as 950 general committee members of the Nepali Congress signing a petition for the restoration of the Hindu state.

Lawmaker and central working committee member of the party, Shankar Bhandari, is leading the campaign in the Nepali Congress for the restoration of the Hindu state. However, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has rejected the idea of incorporating the agenda of the Hindu state in the party’s meeting.

While the Nepali Congress is pushing for the restoration of the Hindu state, other major parties such as CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) are silent over the agenda. However, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the fourth largest party in the parliament, has joined the chorus with the Nepali Congress, advocating for pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu agendas.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also called for pursuing an independent foreign policy and redeclaring Nepal as a “zone of peace” as part of their 40-point agenda submitted to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The party also plans to organize a series of protests in Kathmandu from next month, with the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy as a key agenda.