Nepali Congress Leaders Clash Over Religious Freedom Clause
Summary
A dispute over a religion clause erupted between Nepali Congress leaders Bimalendra Nidhi and Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat during the closing session of a 3-day national gathering in Kathmandu. Sher Bahadur Deuba later intervened, and the disputed line was eventually read out in the final decision.
Key Points
- A verbal altercation broke out between Bimalendra Nidhi and Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat over wording related to religion in the gathering’s draft decision.
- The disagreement escalated into a brief scuffle and paper-snatching during the live closing ceremony at Miracle Party Palace in Sukedhara.
- Nidhi wanted the clause changed to simply say “religious freedom,” while Mahat had drafted a line about following religions practiced since ancient times.
- Sher Bahadur Deuba intervened and the decision was read out with Mahat’s original wording.
