KATHMANDU: Former president of India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajnath Singh, today said Nepal should be restored a Hindu state and that his party will always support this agenda.

He, however, said any movement in that direction should be peaceful and non-violent.

Talking to reporters at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club Nepal, Singh said: “I urge the political parties of Nepal to make a consensus on this particular issue.”

He further said that he would be very happy if Nepal is declared a Hindu state once again.

“No one has made efforts to turn countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and some European countries secular, but a Hindu state of Nepal has been declared a secular state,” he added.

Singh was in Nepal to pay his last respect to Nepali Congress President and Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. He returned home this afternoon.

Hinting at the UCPN-Maoist, Singh said political parties should give up the politics of weapons.

“In a democracy, there should not be weapons in individuals’ hands,” he said.

“Politics of weapons should immediately end for peace, stability and healthy democracy in Nepal,” he added.

Singh today met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter’s residence at Baluwatar.

According to the PM’s press advisor Bishnu Rijal, Singh told the PM India has lost a “true and capable” friend with the demise of Koirala.

PM Nepal assured Singh that the country will promulgate the constitution within the given deadline even in Koirala’s absence.