Nepal towards Socialism or Prograssive Secularism ??

Secretary general of the Socialist International, Luis Ayala (L), and Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel (R) at a press conference

What will be the final destiny of Nepal Socialism or Progressive Secularism? It is hard to predict yet, although a lot of political developments are taking place in a very fast pace. Not a single political party of Nepal has opposed the declaration of Secular State. Even the so called rightists’ parties that were close to the Palace and the King never showed their displeasure in declaration of the end of HINDU state. Can Nepal be return to a Hindu state without the support of any Political party?

Politically, almost all major parties in Nepal are based on the Socialist ideology. They want to identify themselves as socialists. The largest democratic party of Nepal NC (Nepali Congress) has the basic principle nationalism, democracy and socialism; not to mention of other declared communists parties. Looking at the size and the number of people the parties’ represent one can simply come to the conclusion that Nepal is on its way to socialism.

What kind of socialism the political parties want to establish in Nepal can be debatable because each political party defines its own form of socialism? I am reminded of the popular saying “socialism is that hat even dictators try to wear it, it does not matter whether it fits them or not”.

Rights group halts violent Nepal strikes

By Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press Writer
KATMANDU, Nepal --A group that has been organizing violent protests in southern Nepal said Thursday it was temporarily suspending demonstrations and would begin talks with the government.
Upendra Yadav, chief of the Tarai People's Rights Forum, said that before talks can begin, it wants the home minister's resignation and a commission to investigate the killing of about 20 protesters since Jan. 19 before the talks begin.
"Beginning from today, we are going to suspend the general strikes, blockades of the roads and highways, for 10 days," Yadav told reporters in the capital, Katmandu.
He warned, however, that if the government fails to create a "conducive environment" to resolve the problem, they would resume their protests.
The group's statement follows the announcement by the government that it has accepted the protesters' key demands and said it would allocate more seats in parliament and positions in its administration to representatives of the southern region.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced late Wednesday that the constitution would be immediately amended to accommodate the changes.
Yadav's and other smaller groups in the southern Nepal have been demanding more autonomy and greater representation. They say the south has been sidelined in favor of the more populated mountainous areas in the country's north.
"We take the prime minister's announcement as a first positive step, but it is still not complete. It is unfortunate that the government has been silent on the issue of regional autonomy," Yadav said.
Small but peaceful demonstrations were held in some areas of the south and southeast but most of the region remained calm following Koirala's announcement, said Home Ministry Secretary Umesh Mainali.
Mainali said protesters blocked highways and other routes, but there were no reports of violence.
In the industrial city of Biratnagar, 250 miles southeast of Katmandu, a curfew was imposed again Thursday as a precaution after protesters began to gather in the morning, police official Gopal Bhandari said.
On Wednesday, two protesters were shot and killed by police in Biratnagar, Nepal's second-largest city. Police said they were forced to open fire in self-defense when thousands of demonstrators began marching toward a police post and jail armed with spears and other weapons.