Hindu Groups Announce 'Guerrilla War' In Nepal

October 8, 2007

Author: Prakash Bom

Source: Global Politician

http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=3572&cid=6&sid=80

A new alliance of Hindu groups Monday warned it would unleash a 'guerrilla war' in seven days to press its demand for reinstating a Hindu state in Nepal. The warning comes less than a fortnight after unknown perpetrators set off serial blasts that rocked Kathmandu, killing three people and injuring over two dozen.

The Nepal Armed Hindu Morcha, a new alliance of pro-Hindu groups, said it would start an 'underground holy people's war' on Sep 18.

In 1996, the Maoist guerrillas had begun their 'people's war' - that claimed over 13,000 lives - in a bid to overthrow Nepal's constitutional monarchy, abolish Hinduism as the state religion and establish a communist republic.

In a reverse echo of the Maoist insurgency, the Morcha said its fight was intended to reinstate a Hindu state in Nepal.

Nepal was the world's only Hindu kingdom till last year when an effort by King Gyanendra to seize absolute power failed, resulting in an uprising. The revolt ended the king's 15-month direct rule and made parliament proclaim Nepal a secular country.

Hindu groups in Nepal, however, refuse to accept the change and have been urging for the restoration of Hinduism as the state religion.