Nepal WAS always secular: Advani

Despite his party's concerns over Nepal ending its unique status as the world's last Hindu kingdom, senior BJP leader L K Advani today maintained that the neighbouring country had been a secular state all along.

"Nepal has always been a secular country. It is secular today, it was secular when it was (formally) called a Hindu kingdom," the Leader of Opposition told reporters after a meeting with visiting Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala here.

His comments came barely a day after BJP chief Rajnath Singh expressed concern over Nepal's Parliament declaring the country a secular state.