An Indian leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr. Subramaniyam Swami has suggested Nepal should reinstate its ‘Hindu State’ status. For the cause, he put forth the following support:
- Vast majority of the Nepalese people follow Hinduism
- China and India are positive about Nepal becoming a ‘Hindu State’.
- If Nepal would become a Hindu State it would be respecting the sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide.
He went further than that, in a meeting with PM K P Sharma Oli, he reminded him of his ‘Brahmin roots’. We are unsure if the PM was convinced. He also proposed making Sanskrit compulsory in schools, therefore promoting Hinduism. The statement comes at a time when the nation is being criticised for introducing Chinese in its schools.
There has been an increasing call for a Hindu State by India in the recent months – last month CM Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh said ‘Nepal would rethink ‘secularism’ and consider reinstating Nepal as a Hindu State. According to sources, another leader of the party, former member of Lok Sabha Tarun Bijaya, was reported to have held a separate meeting with PM Oli. Bijaya is in strong favor of Hinduism.
The pressure coming from varied forms stems from India’s ruling party policies – a pro-Hinduism party. Nepal used to be a Hindu State prior to adopting secularism in 2007.
