Nepal: Minor party holds protests seeking Hindu state

ANKARA

A minor Nepalese opposition party held demonstrations Monday seeking to turn the Himalayan country into a Hindu state.

Police fired tear gas shells and charged members of the right-wing National Democratic Party (RPP) near Singhdurbar, the central government administrative complex. Injuries were also reported.

“Nepal shifted to a secular republic, leaving behind the remains of a Hindu kingdom,” a local journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency.

“The RPP has two demands: one, to make Nepal a constitutional monarchy, and second, to make it a Hindu state,” said the journalist.

After Nepal's monarchy was abolished in 2008, it became a parliamentary democracy where elections are held every five years.

“During the time of constitution-drafting in 2015, there was overwhelming public support for a Hindu state,” claimed RPP Chairman Kamal Thapa, speaking to The Annapurna Express.

"When we sought people’s suggestions on the draft constitution, an overwhelming majority were in favor of a Hindu state. But their sentiments were not honored."

Hindus form an 80% majority of Nepal's population of some 29 million, with Buddhism and Islam being the other major faiths.

The country is currently ruled by the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli with a two-thirds majority in parliament.