Nepal may remove 'secularism' from new Constitution

The key term of 'secularism' may be dropped in Nepal's new Constitution as it is not considered "appropriate" by many people, according to top Nepali leaders.
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Prachanda said today that the term 'secularism' is not an appropriate one and it would be replaced by a suitable term in the new Constitution.
Talking to reporters at his residence, Prachanda said they are mulling to replace the word while finalising the new Constitution as it has hurt the sentiments of the general public.
"We found during the feedback collection process that the people were deeply displeased and hurt with the usage of the term 'secularism', therefore, when the new Constitution is promulgated, the term will be replaced by another suitable word," he was quoted as saying by My Republica.

Earlier on Friday, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had also hinted that the term 'secularism' would be removed from the new Constitution.
"I have heard that a large section of people are against stating the word 'secularism' in new Constitution," Oli had said. "It can be removed as it didn't sound appropriate."

Meanwhile, in an editorial, the Ekantipur Online said, "Over the past few days, a campaign to remove the word 'secularism' from the Constitution has been gaining momentum. Many politicians from the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress had always been opposed to the declaration of Nepal as a secular state and were secretly in favour of defining Nepal as a Hindu state."

"These politicians have now been emboldened by the suggestion of some members of the civil society to remove secularism as a Constitutional principle," the editorial said.
In 2008, Nepal abolished the 240-year-old monarchy and declared the country a "secular, federal democratic republic.