No going back to Hindu state: Nepal

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
Kathmandu, September 14
A proposal to declare Nepal a Hindu state was today overwhelmingly rejected by the Constituent Assembly which reaffirmed that the Hindu-majority nation will remain secular. The proposal made by pro-Hindu National Democratic Party Nepal to amend the Constitution to make Nepal a Hindu state was rejected by more than two-thirds of lawmakers who declared that the country should remain secular as the Constituent Assembly resumed voting on individual articles of the draft Constitution.
After Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang announced that the proposal has been rejected, Kamal Thapa, leader of the National Democratic Party Nepal, demanded split voting.
Thapa’s proposal for a vote received the support of only 21 lawmakers in the 601-seat Constituent Assembly. As the CA Rules requires 61 persons to begin the split voting, the voting was not done.
The erstwhile Hindu state, Nepal was declared a secular state in 2007 after the success of the People’s Movement of 2006.
New Delhi: India on Monday displayed concern over developments in Nepal where disagreement over facets over contours of a new Constitution caused unrest in the county.
New Delhi's concerns were articulated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who while emphasising India's commitment to further strengthening its relations with the neighbour hoped that leaders in Kathmandu will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to build a durable and resilient Constitution to build a modern Nepal.
"Nepal's political parties, organisations and intellectuals have always displayed maturity and foresight at times of crises. It is only with their continued leadership and wisdom that Nepal can overcome its current difficulties. A durable Constitution is necessary to build a modern Nepal. We hope that Nepal's leaders will leave no stone unturned in their effort", Sushma said.
 
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