Former DPM demands Nepal to return to Hindu state

From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Aug 31 (PTI) Nepal’s former deputy primeminister and pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party chief KamalThapa today demanded reinstatement of the country’s Hindustate status in the proposed constitutional amendment. "If the government tables a bill to amendment theconstitution in order to address the demands of the Madhesiparties, a provision to end secularism and reinstatement ofNepal as a Hindu state should also be included in theamendment bill," Thapa told reporters. Nepal was converted into a secular state through aParliament declaration shortly after the success of thePeople’s Movement of 2006 that ended absolute monarchy. "Any proposal to the constitution amendment for thegreater interest of the people will be acceptable for ourparty," said Thapa, the leader of the fourth largest party inthe Parliament having 25 Lawmakers. He accused the ruling alliance of trying to deceive thepeople by talking about constitution amendment without makingany serious homework. The government is only using the Madhesi parties and theyare fooling the Madhesi ethnic groups by talking aboutconstitution amendment. Prime Minister Prachanda has said his government wouldtable the constitution amendment bill before he embarks to NewDelhi on a goodwill visit in two weeks, which is just a trickto fool the agitating Madhesi parties and to deceive them,Thapa claimed. Regarding the issue of restoring monarchy in the country,he said the monarchy could be reinstated only if the Nepalesepeople wishes so. PTI SBPZH