RPP bats for Hindu republic

Kathmandu, September 28

Chair of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana today said that his party would now champion the cause of    Hindu republic as its ideology.

Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of Dashain and Chhath festivals, Rana said his party had been adopting the three-pillar policy of nationalism, democracy and liberalism and now it had added the cause of Hindu republic to make it a four-pillar policy.

Rana said secularism was incorporated in the constitution without holding referendum.

In response to a query, Rana said he was in favour of creating two province in Madhes — one from Saptari to Parsa and another from Nawalparasi to Bardiya district and to settle the question of other five Tsrai districts — Kailali, Kanchanpur, Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa — through a commission.

“As we have not mixed the hill districts with Tsrai districts in the east (in province-2) we should not mix Tarai districts with hill districts in the west,” Rana added.

He said the constitution could not be implemented without addressing the issues raised by Madhesis and Janajatis. “I have been saying for the last 45 years that inclusion should be ensured in all organs of the state, including the security bodies,” he added.

Rana also said that local polls should be held under the existing system and restructuring of local bodies should be done only after the polls through consultation with provincial governments.

Rana said the big three parties would have to revoke their decision to create local bodies equal to the number of Ilakas (Areas) as practised in the past. He said he was in favour of Nepali being the national language. Rana also said India’s decision not to attend the upcoming SAARC Summit in Pakistan was understandable in the face of terrorist attacks in Pathankot and Uri.