Kathmandu: Supporting the demand for the declaration of Nepal as a Hindu nation, a senior minister in the Nepal government said on Thursday that it can be done through a plebiscite if the majority of the population is in favor of it. Tourism and Culture Minister Prem Ale, while addressing a two-day executive council meeting of the World Hindu Federation in Kathmandu, said the demand for declaring Nepal as a Hindu nation can be considered and if such a demand comes, it will be “a Will play a constructive role.”
Minister Ale was responding to a demand raised by the World Hindu Federation during the event here. More than 150 delegates from 12 countries including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the US, Germany, and the UK are participating in the Executive Council meeting. “Since the current five-party coalition government enjoys a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the demand for declaration of Nepal as a Hindu nation can be put in a plebiscite,” he said.
Ale questioned, “Our constitution has declared the country as a secular nation but if the majority of the population is in favor of Hindu Rashtra then why was Nepal not declared as Hindu Rashtra through a plebiscite.” Nepal was declared a secular state in 2008 after the monarchy was abolished in the 2006 mass movement. Nepal has a majority Hindu population. During the program, Ajay Singh, President of World Hindu Federation International, demanded that Nepal be declared a Hindu Rashtra as a large part of the Hindu population lives in the country.
“If some countries can be declared as an Islamic nation, other countries as a Christian nation and democratic system can also be maintained then why Nepal can’t be declared as Hindu democratic country,” Singh questioned. “I call upon the Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN-UML, and Madhesi parties to come forward to declare Nepal as a Hindu nation,” he said.
