Kathmandu: Senior Vice President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Rabindra Mishra has taken a strong exception to the United States Department of State’s report on religious freedom which, among other things, presents Nepal as a hostile state to Christians and claims that Nepali political politicians, pointing particularly to those belonging to RPP, work to reestablish Nepal as a Hindu state under the pressure and monetary support from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Full text of his statement:
“It is very unfortunate to note that a highly responsible institution like the US State Department has come out with some serious allegations regarding Nepal entirely based on hearsay.
The report categorically fails to provide evidence on several allegations and keeps on quoting “civil society”, making unsubstantiated statements.
I believe that the United States is well aware of the problem of misinformation and disinformation and the negative impact such false information can have on the reputation of a political party.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is a positively nationalist force and believes in maintaining friendly relations with all countries, concerned groups and political parties around the world. It truly appreciates the assistance provided by the US government to Nepal for several decades.
RPP, however, refuses to be pressurized by any foreign groups, parties or states. At the same time, RPP genuinely believes in religious freedom and harmony, which were happily enjoyed by Nepal prior to 2008, when secularism was conspiratorially enforced by the vested interplay of internal and external forces.
As a responsible political party that believes in individual freedom, RPP does not involve itself in activities that create sentiment against any particular religion or group.
Since the declaration of secularism, Nepal has been experiencing one of the fastest religious conversion rates in the world. Conversion has become a matter of organized foreign influence, rather than of free personal choice.
That, in turn, is creating a serious concern regarding the possibility of religious conflict, as well as the adverse impact on Nepal’s centuries old rich culture and civilization.
I hope that the Nepal government will make an official statement on the matter.”
[Related: America portrays Nepal as soft on Tibetan Buddhists, hostile to Christians and supportive of Hindus]
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