Kathmandu, June 29 :

Nepali Congress-Democratic leader, Homnath Dahal, today said the House of Representatives, through it declaration of Nepal as a secular state, intends to give equal rights to all religions in the country.

“Secularism does not mean absence of religion or anti-religious movement. It only makes the state look at all the religions equally and refuses to be a part of one among them,” he said.

He stressed the need for all religious communities to take

the historic decision by the Housepositively and urged all to be assured that no religion will be undermined or oppressed by another.

Some of the aides of the royal regime said that the Hindu King should not obey the Constitution and this prompted the present House, reinstated through the Jana Andolan to declare Nepal as a secular state, he said. Surendra Pandey of the CPN-UML said the state is not going to come in the way of followers of Hinduism in any way. “I’m a Hindu and this new provision is not going to affect my right to follow my religion,” he said.

He further added that some elements are trying to spread

a wrong meaning of secularism and asked all to be aware of

such factors.

“Some people say secularism will invite religious conflicts. This is totally wrong. Some countries with only one religion are witnessing intra-religion clashes, while many countries with multi-religion are living in peace and harmony because all religions get protection from the state,” he said.

An Indian religious guru, Swami Punyananda Giriji Maharaj opposed the parliament’s declaration on secularism.