KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has affirmed his personal dedication to Hinduism while insisting that Nepal must remain a country of religious freedom without discriminating against other faiths.
Addressing the final session of a three-day national gathering organized by the party’s rival faction in Sukedhara, Deuba addressed questions regarding a Hindu state by clarifying that his personal faith does not make him opposed to any other community.
Explaining that he practices traditional rituals, worships at Pashupatinath, and observes Hindu customs, he stressed that every citizen—including Muslims and Kirats—holds equal rights in Nepal, and that long-term decisions on the nation’s religious framework belong to the public.
In addition to clarifying his stance on faith, Deuba expressed strong confidence in the judiciary, recalling how court decisions had protected him during detentions under the Panchayat system and royal rule.
He also defended his decision to seek legal intervention against January’s special general convention, arguing that the event proceeded without broad consensus and excluded key members, while pledging to fully honor the Supreme Court’s upcoming final verdict.
