Lucknow, 18 Aug (HS): Nepal's former Prime Minister and

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has decided to give national

identity to Sanatan Dharma in the country. This has strengthened the

declaration of making Nepal a Hindu nation. In the 14th National

Conference of the NC faction under the leadership of Deuba, a resolution was

passed to promote it as the national identity of the country. Deuba said, make

Sanatan Dharma the identity of Nepal. The statement has heated up the political

atmosphere. However, the resolution also emphasized the freedom, tolerance and

social harmony of all religious communities, including the protection of Hindu,

Buddhist, Kirat and nature-based religious traditions.

At the conference's closing ceremony, Deuba clarified his

political direction with the slogan I am a Hindu. The former

Nepalese Prime Minister stated, I am not against anyone. But I just want

the right to say that I am a Hindu. His statement is considered

significant amid the ongoing debate over Sanatan identity.

Resolution passed... Politics heated up over the country's

new identity

Proposal to organize the 15th General Conference under the

leadership of Deuba.

Dialogue with all forces for national unity and

strengthening of democracy.

Necessary amendments in the Constitution as per the

expectations of the public.

Emphasis on ensuring the preservation of Hindu, Buddhist and

Kirat traditions along with Sanatan Dharma.

NP Saud Committee will finalize the resolutions passed in

the conference.

Objection to the other faction of Congress: The second

faction of the Nepali Congress has objections to the resolutions passed at the

convention. Spokesperson Vinod Chalise said, The party is closely

monitoring the work and statements made at the convention. The party will

respond as needed.

Meanwhile, the campaign to re-declare Nepal a Hindu nation

has now entered a new phase. Pro-Hindu organizations are considering

constitutional amendment as a way to advance their demand. The Nepal government

is gathering suggestions for amending various provisions of the Constitution.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Nepal has submitted a

written proposal to the government. It suggests removing the word

secular from Article 4 of the Constitution. The VHP Nepal wants

Nepal to be reestablished as a Hindu nation based on Sanatan Dharma. The

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is also pushing for the inclusion of the Hindu

nation issue in the constitutional amendment debate. The government's

constitutional amendment task force has suggested changes to 245 out of 308

articles. Pro-Hindu nation organizations have used this process as an

opportunity to include their demand in the constitutional debate. This

information was given by Krishna Pandey, National President of the VHP Nepal

Matrishakti Vibhag. She said that the organization wants to include Hindu,

Buddhist, and Kirat religious-cultural traditions in the Sanatan tradition.

RPP's participation in the constitutional debate: Led by RPP

President Rajendra Prasad Linden, the party met with Prime Minister Balen Shah.

The party demanded that issues related to Hindu nationhood, monarchy, and

federalism be included in the constitutional amendment debate. RPP stated that

a comprehensive constitutional amendment should also include a debate on

Nepal's religious and cultural identity. This should take place within

Parliament and political parties.

Religious freedom in the proposed model: The pro-Hindu

nationalist camp is also highlighting religious freedom in the proposed model.

This demand is not merely to change the state's identity based on its majority

Hindu population. It is being presented as a model that maintains the freedom

of all religions while maintaining its eternal cultural identity. Following the

adoption of the Constitution in 2015, Nepal became a secular federal democratic

republic. Now, amid discussions of comprehensive constitutional amendments,

this demand has taken on a new form.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi