Hindu fundamentalists plan to restore a theocratic monarchy

ICC Note: Christian and Muslim minorities are concerned about creatin of Hindu state, insisting that under the republic they exercise greater freedom of religion.

by Kalpit Parajuli

5/25/10 Nepal (AsiaNews) – Hindu fundamentalists are against the transformation of Nepal into a secular state. For this reason, they held a conference in Mumbai titled “Nepal Hindu State Unity Campaign” to prepare the restoration of the monarchy. Delegates from 64 countries, including the United States, Japan and Great Britain, participated in the event, which was organised by Nepalis living in India with the support of the Shiva Sena and the World Hindu Federation. In the meantime, back in Nepal, Maoists are preventing the ruling coalition government from working at a time when it is faced with a 28 May deadline to submit a new democratic constitution without which the country might once again plunge into crisis and a new Maoist insurgency.

Kamal Thapa, leader of the pro-monarchist Rastrya Parjatra Party-Nepal, told AsiaNews, “Political parties don’t have right to declared Nepal as secular. Eighty per cent of Nepalese are Hindu;” for this reason, “there should be a referendum before taking such a decision.”

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