Deuba camp divided over push to make Sanatan religion national identity
Summary
A proposal to make Sanatan Dharma Nepal’s national identity has split the Nepali Congress faction led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and delayed the party’s concluding press conference. Leaders remain divided over whether the party should move away from secularism and toward a Hindu state identity.
Key Points
- A five-point proposal to promote Sanatan Dharma as Nepal’s national identity was passed at the Nepali Congress closed session on Monday.
- The move deepened divisions within Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction and delayed the release of the gathering’s final conclusions.
- Leaders including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh and Min Bishwokarma opposed the proposal, while Shashanka Koirala, Prakash Sharan Mahat, NP Saud and Shankar Bhandari supported it.
- The dispute centered on whether the party should retain its constitutional support for secularism or shift toward a Hindu state identity.
