KATHMANDU: Sudan Kirati, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent statement, seeking to clarify his position.

During a public event on Wednesday, Minister Kirati sparked controversy by stating, “Opposing Christianity means opposing the constitution, and those who oppose Christianity will be handcuffed.”

In response to the widespread criticism from parliamentary committees and social media opposing his statement, there have been calls for Minister Kirati’s dismissal, with demands for legal action against him.

Attempting to defuse the situation, Minister Kirati took to social media to provide clarification, asserting that he upholds the sanctity of every religion and respects the existence of all individuals.

In a Facebook post, he expressed gratitude for the ongoing debate, urging everyone to maintain brotherhood and tolerance by adhering to the constitution.

He emphasized his commitment to combating extremism and preserving national unity, stating, “When I clean Pashupatinath, I call myself a Hindu; when I advocate Buddhist philosophy, I am a Buddhist; when I attend a Muslim program, I am a Muslim; when I attend a Christian program, I say I am a Christian. Let us treat all beings the same way. Ultimately, accepting the existence of another is to respect one’s own existence.”