Government and Hindu Organizations Reach 13-Point Agreement, All-Party Talks on Hindu State to Move Forward

Dragon Media News Desk

A government negotiating team led by Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and representatives of protesting Hindu organizations have reached a 13-point agreement.

The agreement was concluded during talks held at the District Administration Office in Dhanusha on Saturday night, according to Dhanusha Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luitel.

The discussions covered religious harmony, social peace, national identity, the management of religious institutions and financial transparency.

The Joint Hindu Front, including the Hindu Samrat Sena, had submitted a 13-point charter of demands. The agreement between the government and the protesting organizations was reached on the basis of those demands.

Under the agreement, an all-party discussion process on declaring Nepal a Hindu state will be initiated within three months.

Measures will also be introduced to prevent the display of weapons and other provocative activities at religious sites.

The use of loudspeakers and sound amplification systems installed at temples, mosques, monasteries, churches and other religious sites will be regulated. Limited use of sound equipment will be permitted for necessary religious activities.

Records will be maintained of individuals residing on the premises of religious institutions. Foreign nationals living at such sites will be monitored and managed through the relevant government agencies.

Individuals who spread religious, communal or ethnic hatred through social media will face legal action under existing laws.

The agreement also provides for a review of cases filed against individuals arrested following the Dewanganj incident in Sunsari, after which appropriate decisions will be taken.

Medical treatment and necessary healthcare services will be arranged for those injured during the protests.

The relevance, necessity and legal foundations of religious commissions will also be reviewed.

The safety of citizens participating in the movement will be ensured, while the process of distributing Nepali citizenship will be investigated. Where matters involving foreign nationals are identified, legal proceedings will be initiated in accordance with existing law.

Financial resources received by madrasas, mosques and other religious institutions through various channels will be monitored.

Measures will be taken to ensure transparency in funds received by religious institutions. Regulatory action will be introduced where necessary, and legal proceedings will be initiated if violations are found.

The talks were attended by Home Minister Gurung, Madhesh Province Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Yadav, Provincial Finance Minister Yuvraj Bhattarai, Minister for Home Affairs, Communications and Law Fakira Mahato, House of Representatives member Manish Jha and Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah.

Representatives of the Hindu Samrat Sena and other Hindu organizations affiliated with the Joint Hindu Front also participated.

Both the government and the protesting groups said the agreement had opened the way for issues concerning religion and social harmony to be addressed through dialogue and legal processes.