Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: A US government report states that India’s ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other Hindu groups in India are influencing Nepali politicians to support reversion to a Hindu state.
Citing civil society leaders, the report mentions that India’s ruling party is taking initiatives from various angles to reverse Nepal back into a Hindu nation. “Civil society leaders said what they characterized as right-wing religious groups associated with the BJP in India continued to provide money to influential politicians of all parties to advocate Hindu statehood,” the report states.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken unveiled the report. The US government publishes the report every year. The 2022 report includes a 13-page chapter on Nepal. The report was prepared based on field visits, surveys, news reports, and interviews with religious groups, people affiliated with non-government organizations, journalists, human rights activists, and academicians, among others.
“According to NGOs and Christian leaders, small numbers of Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) supporters endeavored to create an unfriendly environment for Christians on social media and encouraged ‘upper-caste’ Hindus to enforce caste-based discrimination at local political rallies,” the report states.
An amendment to the constitution is necessary for Nepal to become a Hindu nation again, which is going to be very difficult.
“Multiple religious groups in the country continued to reiterate that the constitutional and criminal code provisions governing religious conversion and proselytism were vague and contradictory and opened the door for prosecution for actions carried out in the normal course of practicing one’s religion,” the report states.
Noting that major political parties did not incorporate Hinduism in their public political manifestos, and senior leaders did not argue for reinstating Hinduism as the country’s official religion in their campaign speeches, the report states that Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RRP), in its manifesto, called for a Hindu kingdom based on the Sanatan Dharma with religious freedom for all faiths. “Civil society sources stated that some RPP politicians continued to use anti-Christian sentiment to garner populist support,” it added.
The report notes that Nepal has softened its stance on Tibetan religious leaders. “Police surveillance of Tibetans and the number of security personnel monitoring Tibetan cultural and religious celebrations markedly decreased from 2021, according to members of the Tibetan community,” the report states. “The government permitted Losar celebrations in March and celebrations honoring the Dalai Lama’s birthday in July, both including the display of his portrait. Knowledgeable Tibetan observers said this was due to the government’s more relaxed posture, compared to its predecessor’s, towards Tibetan refugees’ cultural and religious expression.”
The government has not commented on the report yet. However, the Indian government has already expressed its objection to the report.
