Gyanu Adhikari in Scroll.in
The upper-caste leaders crafting Nepal\u2019s constitution \u201d\u201c to come into force 5 pm on Sunday \u201d\u201c have included provisions on secularism that leave room for future conflicts over religion, lawyers warn. The new constitution says Nepal will be a secular state, but goes on to define secularism as the \u201cprotection of Sanatan religion culture, as well as cultural and religious freedom\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSanatan religion, in Nepal\u2019s context, is interpreted as Hinduism, which has influenced Nepali law and governance,\u201d\u009d said Sapana Pradhan Malla, a lawyer who has been active in exposing the constitutional provisions that discriminate against women \u201d\u201c including a separate unequal provision for men and women on passing citizenship to their children.<\/p>\n
Secularism has long been demanded by Nepal\u2019s religious minorities \u201d\u201c including Buddhists, Christian, Muslims, and nature worshippers, as well as indigenous groups some of whose cultural traditions have been criminalised by laws based on Hinduism.<\/p>\n