KATHMANDU: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that increase in the number of Christians in Nepal would pose a threat not only to Nepal but also to neighbouring India and China.

In an interview with an Indian magazine Outlook Dahal said he was against forceful conversion of one’s religious beliefs.

“Both neighbouring India and China have raised concern about changes in the structure of the religious population in Nepal. For China that means increase of western influence.

That also does not serve our national interest,” he said. He, however, said his party was not for Hindu state and therefore supported a secular state.

“Some parties including Nepali Congress are still lobbying for the revival of Hindu state,” he said. Dahal further said forceful conversion of religions has been described as criminal act in the new constitution.

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