Almost four years after Nepal proclaimed itself as secular, former king Gyanendra Shah on Monday attended a religious function that is demanding Hindu nation status for the country.
The former king's presence at an elaborate function at the popular Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu along
with his wife Komal has added fuel to the demand that Nepal should give up its secular status.
According to ekantipur.com, a Nepali news website, Shah made a brief comment to those present that if the masses wanted the country to become a Hindu state, he would support that sentiment.
The religious function that started on Sunday is being organized by Kalidas Baba, a Hindu mendicant who has threatened to commit self-immolation if the demand was not met.
Earlier, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had also attended the function and expressed his support to the cause.
Hindus comprise over 80 per cent of the total population in Nepal, but after the 2006 democracy movement that saw abolition of monarchy, the House of Representatives passed a motion declaring Nepal a secular state.