Strong action should be taken against those who are trying to destabilize Nepali society by exploiting the religious sentiment
As Nepal is heading toward democratic transition, religious fundamentalists and royalists are trying to destabilize the country under the cover of defending Hinduism. These are the people who were kicked out of the power by April’s popular Peoples’ Movement. They were desperately looking for an opportunity to fight back. They found one in the parliament’s historic proclamation that declared Nepal, the world’s only Hindu kingdom, a secular state.
The anarchic mobs of Hindu fundamentalists are not only burning copies of newspaper that wrote in favor of secularism but also trying to exploit the public sentiment in cases like mistreating of a patient by a hospital. The other day, extremists burnt the copies of Kantipur daily with an editorial welcoming the secularism. It is widely believed that extremists were instigating the protest against Kathmandu’s Everest Nursing Home yesterday and the day before yesterday. (article continues after the box)
Contain hooliganism
Editorial of the Kathmandu Post
The recent spate of violence in Butwal, Birgunj and Kathmandu is a signal of imminent large-scale anarchy in the country. Though some minor anarchical incidents during the period of political fluidity may not be that unusual, a serious risk of counter-revolution and civil war cannot be ruled out. The pretext on which doctors were beaten and hospitals vandalized in Butwal and Kathmandu, about 17,000 copies of Kantipur daily burnt to ashes in Birgunj, and the scale of road blockades on Wednesday and Thursday [May 25] in Kathmandu are simply unnatural. These incidents indicate the involvement of certain interest group with vested interest who is trying to flare up violence in the country. The government should take control of the situation and ensure law and order. It cannot take these events lightly as the reactionary forces would always try to prove the people’s government a failure.It is difficult to pinpoint anyone for the recent violence. However, there are suspicions regarding the involvement of either the royalists or the Maoists. The royalist hand is suspected because it would try to play religion card and evoke people’s sentiments. On the other hand, Maoists’ involvement cannot be ruled out because their aspiration to overrun this government and establish their own overnight has not completely died down. We believe that anarchism and hooliganism will help no one. If the royalist were behind this incident, the king would lose whatever position and property he has been left with. And, if the Maoists are involved, they will lose all their credibility and chance to win votes when peaceful elections take place. We don’t believe that the Maoists would try to ruin the upcoming peaceful environment, but there are elements within their party who should be monitored carefully.
Whoever is involved in the incident, the attacks on doctors and hospitals in Kathmandu and Butwal is condemnable. We support the doctors’ call for strike. At the same time, we also urge the doctors to be sympathetic to the problems of the sick and ailing, and limit their strike to only two days. The Post is simply confused and awe-stricken by the behavior of people who burnt our publications at Birgunj. They are a bunch of hooligans. Such anti-social elements should be contained immediately and effectively. Similarly, the disruption of vehicular movement in Kathmandu and subsequent spread of rumors can have serious ramifications. Until and unless the government appoints honest and competent people in key security positions, the idea of good governance will remain an illusion.
The government hasn’t taken any action against these fundamentalists so far. Yesterday Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala took up with King Gyanendra the matter of royalists’ alleged involvement – direct or indirect – in orchestrating anarchy in various parts of the country, reports the Kathmandu Post. According to a highly-placed source [of the Post], PM Koirala gave the example of the involvement of Nanda Kishor Ghirahiya, a member of the dissolved Rajparishad, in inciting violence in the name of religion, during the 75-minute meeting at Narayanhiti Palace. Koirala told the king that “the government would be compelled to take stern action against royalists” if they are not stopped.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said on Thursday [May 25] that the government would take strong action against those promoting religious fundamentalism and plotting against democracy, reports eKantipur. Speaking at the House of Representatives, Sitaula said the government was committed to take strong action against those who are carrying out anti-secularist activities for anti-democratic ends. “I assure you that all those plotting against democracy in the name of pushing their fundamentalist ideas will not be spared,” Sitaula told MPs. He also informed that all police and administrative mechanisms have been instructed to take such activities under control.
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Comments
111 responses to “Neutralize Hindu Fundamentalism in Nepal”
What makes you think that proclamation made us dictorial?
read above as What makes you think that proclamation made as is dictatorial?
I would also add to what ‘daal bhudey ji’ said above- that Nepal’s poverty is rooted in its racist caste system and caste-based national policies that excluded and marginalized the majority of the local non-Hindu population, including women of their Hindus. Under true democracy of people, not only should we keep Nepal secular, we should bring in criminal court those Hindu fundamentalists who subjugated and deprived the non-Hindu people of Nepal from socio-economic and cultural advancement purely based on their ethnicity. They should also be punished for forcefully converting the local ethnic people into racist caste-hierarchy labeling them low-caste, while in fact, they never belonged to caste-system to begin with. It has created great loss in their cultural advancement and economic development. That’s why there’s so high illiteracy rate and low economic status among local non-Hindu population. This is a heinous crime punishable under Genocide by any just system of court of law under International Court. The falsification of statistical truth (e.g. 85% Hindu, that can not be verified), and deliberate manipulation of census data (nationals property) is a serious crime under Right to Information, and should therefore be punished by the court of law.
To Justice and to similar kind:
The reason behind you guys questioning statically data, inferring “animist religion” and accusation of falsification of statical truth- smacks at the root of the problem. You guys seem to feel threatened by the statically data ( prove me wrong, or show me data that shows otherwise before hastening to refer Right to Information- is this US version? and punishable by the court of law).
If you can term Hinduism as being a religion of poor- I have a answer for you- that is what we lack in material, we posses in physical and spiritual. Also, Gays in US are comparatively richer than majority of heterosexual, will this offend you? I mean the comparison.
On question of social ills such as discrimination. Which society does not have one? It is there in US, Gulf countries and in China ( social, racial & economical discrimination). You cannot loosely accuse Hindus with terms like genocide, you speak of secularism but I fail to see the character & the spirit with people like you. In name of secularism you are actually preaching retribution & reprisals. I stand by my comments unless someone proves me otherwise.
As for Mr. Rai- I termed it dictatorial just for the fact- In democracy no one unit can dictate and call itself supreme. Rather than that- parties should have called for the scrapping of present constitution and formed a interim government. At one hand they accepted present constitution to get reinstated and next they proclaimed themselves to be supreme, how that can be in Democracy. There is Judiciary body as well and with no opposition it is not democracy at play but a one party rule.
Raju KC,
I am not sure if you understand the contextual relevance of comparability through legal framework vs. retribution. Your response particularly class stratification by sexual orientation eg. gays in the US to religion-based inter-generational discrimnation in Nepal clearly indicates your incapcity to comprehend the gravity of the issues at hand. While I hate to put people down, I advise that you grow out of the status-quo mentality, and develop sense of justice and fairness to all, not only privileged Hindus, mostly Bahun/Chetries. Your reluctance to spell out your full lasttname Khaseko Chetri (KC) is an indication of your embarrassment to the Hindu caste stereotype. Tell me if I’m wrong.
And re- statisical facts, we’ll soon find that out. There is a reason why less than 1% Hindus in late 1700 overpopulated the local population 200 years later while the local population growth stagnated???
HAI NEPALESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
DECLARING OF NEPAL AS A SECULAR NATION IS THE GAME OF POWER HUNGRY COMMUNISTS, REMEMBER IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY ONLY MEMBERS OF THEIR PARTY THE REAL CITIZENS OTHERS ARE NOT SECOND SECOND CLASS BUT THIRD CALLS CITIZENS. COMMUNISM CANNOT ALLOW ONE COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS, COMMUNISIM IS THROWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHERE IT WAS BORN. RUSSIANS KICKED(DESTROYED) ON THE STAUE OF LENIN AND STALIN, PEOPLE OF POLAND, CZECKOSLOVAKIA, BULGARIA, ROMANIA, ALBENIA, HUNGARY, UZBEKISTAN TAJIKISTAN, AZERBAIZAN, KIRGIZSTAN, MONGOLIA AND OTHER 30 COUNTIRIES REJECTED COMMUNISM, IT IS NEPALS BAD TIME TO HAVE COMMUNISIM IN THEIR COUTNRY. COMMUNISM IS A STAGNANT WATER. IF COMMUNISM SURVIVED IN CUBA ITS ONLY BECAUSE DICTATOR REGIM OF CASTRO. THE PEOPLE OF WISE COUNTRY LIKE NEPAL NEVER ALLOW LEFTIST TO GROW IN HEAVEN OF NEPALESE. FOR EXAMPLE TWO COMMUNISTS RULED STATES LIKE BENGAL AND KERALA OF INDIA DOESNT HAVE MUCH INDUSTRY PEOPLE FROM THESE STATES ARE MIGRATING TO OTHER STATES OF INDIA IN SEARCH OF BETTER FUTURE. IT IS CURSE ON NEPALESE PEOPLE TO HAVE PARTIES LIKE CPN UML ON DECISSION MAKING PANEL. IT IS THE FOOLISHNESS OF PRACHANDA THAT NEPALESE WILL HONOUR HIM WITH SEAT OF RULER IN THIS PEACE LOVING COUNTRY. THE COMMUNISM IS FAILED IDEOLOGY. ITS TAKING PEOPLE FROM 21ST CENTURY TO 1ST CENTURY.
Hey you lot!
Why dont you let politics be about politics and religion about religion?
There are many, many religions in Nepal, and that is fine! Do not – politically – posite one religion on top of another.
Let people believe what they want, and be religious if they want, or not if they dont want to.
This “secularisation of the nation” was surely driven through very fast, perhaps too fast, but in the end – dont you all want to live in peace, as equals in a democratic society? Where everybody’s voice is worth the same? No matter if you were born a buddist, a hindu or a christian? Or a maoist?
Stop making beliefs into politics!!! You cannot afford it!
This is a nice discussion, replace hinduism by maoism and who wants to be modern?
Rid of caste system, give more respect to womens and buddhists or so.
Some established religions are not so very alive it seems, like rituals and power for some.
Yes Who brought hinduism to nepal!
Hey! justice,
Did I hit a raw nerve, I bet I did. You write “Your reluctance to spell out your full lasttname Khaseko Chetri (KC) is an indication of your embarrassment to the Hindu caste stereotype. Tell me if I’m wrong.”
Man, you are so wrong. It shows what you are- reprisal and retribution oriented plus with lack of character to speak of secularism – if you really know the meaning of secularism (not just in religious terms). Enuff said.
Old Nepali Constitution did not have full Democratic rights. Hindu nation is not democratic constitution.
Royal families is above the law, order, rule and regulation.
New constitution must be… and No other alternative.
New Nepali Constitution must be Truly Equal Rights, Equal opportunity and participation to Education, Government Employments, social and political participation.
New Nepali Constitution must be Truly Democratic, Justifiable, Civil rights, strong in law, order, rule and regulation. No one above the law and constitution.
New Nepali Constitution must be given full civil rights and full privileges to Nepali native tribal or indigenous people of Nepal. New Nepali constitution must have Quota system and implement for Nepali Indigenous people to give them opportunity, up lift and participation in Education, Government Employments and Political.
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