Nepal ex-king 'wants' country to become Hindu state

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, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: Mar 8, 2010, 18:08:42 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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