Nepal as Hindu nation proposal rejected

The 601-member Constituent Assembly voted clause-by-clause on individual articles of proposed constitution and ensured that Nepal's secular character was retained

Nepali lawmakers on Monday rejected a proposal to restore the Hindu character of the Himalayan nation with the Constituent Assembly (CA) firmly plumping for secularism that was adopted seven years ago.

The 601-member CA -- tasked with framing the country's new constitution -- voted clause-by-clause on individual articles of the proposed constitution and ensured that its secular character -- adopted in May 2008 by the world's once-only-Hindu kingdom -- was retained, the Himalayan Times reported.

Kamal Thapa, chairman of the pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Amrit Bohora had demanded that secularism be removed from the constitution and the Hindu state character be restored instead.

After CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang rejected the twin-RPP proposal, Kamal Thapa demanded voting.

Thapa's proposal for a vote received the support of only 21 lawmakers in the 601-seat Constituent Assembly. CA rules require that at least 61 members approve a proposal for voting.