'Nepal will remain secular'
Assembly rejects proposal for Hindu nation
KATHMANDU - A proposal to declare Nepal a Hindu state was overwhelmingly rejected by the constituent assembly on Monday, which reaffirmed that the Hindu-majority nation will remain secular.
The proposal made by pro-Hindu National Democratic Party to amend the constitution to make Nepal a Hindu state was rejected by more than two-thirds of lawmakers, who declared that the country should remain secular as the constituent assembly resumed voting on individual articles of the draft constitution.
After assembly chairman Subas Chandra Nembang announced that the proposal has been rejected - Kamal Thapa - leader of the National Democratic Party - demanded split voting. Thapa's proposal for a vote received the support of only 21 lawmakers in the 601-seat constituent assembly. As the Constituent Assembly rules require 61 members to begin the split voting, the voting was not done.
The erstwhile Hindu state, Nepal was declared a secular state in 2007 after the success of the people's movement of 2006 that saw the abolition of monarchy. During a public opinion collection held in July, majority of the people preferred the word "Hindu" or "religious freedom" instead of using the term "secularism".
Protesting the rejection of the proposal, a group of Hindu activists carrying yellow and saffron flags clashed with security personnel at New Baneshwar area in the capital. The clash erupted after police used force to disperse the agitating activists, who tried to enter the prohibitory area near the constituent assembly building.
They wanted to march towards the assembly, demanding that Nepal be acknowledged as Hindu state in the new constitution. The protesters attacked passing vehicles, including one of the United Nations.
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