Did the home minister agree to discuss restoring a Hindu state?

A rumored 13-point agreement between Nepal's Home Minister Sudan Gurung and a group identifying as the Hindu Samrat Sena ignited controversy over a proposal to discuss restoring the country as a Hindu state. The alleged agreement, which surfaced Saturday evening, prompted criticism and questions about the home minister's authority to negotiate such a sensitive issue.

However, officials involved in the discussions denied that any formal agreement had been reached. Prem Prasad Luitel, Chief District Officer of Dhanusha, who attended the meeting, stated that it was an opportunity for the groups to present their demands to the government, not a negotiation. "The state has simply accepted their memorandum. There has been no agreement," Luitel said, emphasizing that no incidents had occurred in Dhanusha that would necessitate direct negotiation between opposing parties.

The memorandum, submitted in the name of the Joint Hindu Front, was made public Sunday morning. It specifically requested that discussions on restoring Nepal as a Hindu state begin through an all-party meeting within three months. The document also called for stricter enforcement against the public display of weapons during religious festivals and for regulation of loudspeakers at religious sites, allowing amplified sound only within premises for essential activities.

Following the document's circulation, the Hindu Samrat Sena and other affiliated organizations issued statements denying any agreement with the government. Some groups subsequently requested a direct meeting with the home minister to personally convey their concerns. Minister Gurung later held another round of talks with representatives of the Hindu Samrat Sena in Janakpur on Sunday afternoon, where they submitted a six-point memorandum. Representatives stated that the home minister responded positively to their demands.

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The state has simply accepted their memorandum. There has been no agreement.