Nepal has sent a 'diplomatic note' to the United States of America seeking opinions on the latest US Department of State's International Religious Freedom Annual Report.

 

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sewa Lamsal, said that a diplomatic note has been sent to the US regarding international religious freedom report.

 

"The Prime Minister has already expressed his opinion on this matter," spokesperson Lamsal said, "we have sent a diplomatic note."

 

In the Saturday meeting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said the government had sent a note, drawing serious attention from Nepal, seeking opinion on the report from the US.

 

The latest report of the US Department of State had said right-wing religious groups associated with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been providing funds to influential politicians of all parties in Nepal so that they speak in favour of Hindu statehood.

 

In its International Religious Freedom Report-2022, the State Department, quoting civil society sources, had stated that some politicians associated with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party have been using anti-Christian sentiments to garner populist support.

 

The report touched on various discriminatory practices being observed in Nepal, particularly against Christians, Muslims, Tibetan refugees and other religious minorities.