KATHMANDU: Former Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba delivered a striking message on religious identity and freedom during a closed-door session of the dissident faction’s national gathering in Sukedhara, Kathmandu, on Sunday.
Deuba, who had inaugurated the gathering earlier in the day, addressed the closed session for around three minutes. Thanking party leaders and cadres for the enthusiastic reception he received from the airport onward, he said Nepal was passing through a difficult period.
“Thank you to all the friends present here. I am deeply grateful for the enthusiastic support and solidarity you have shown toward the party and me from the airport onward,” Deuba said.
Faith in the judiciary
Deuba devoted part of his brief address to his long-standing faith in the judiciary, recalling that courts had protected him during difficult periods of Nepal’s political history.
Referring to recent arrest warrants issued against him and efforts to seek an international red notice, Deuba said he remained grateful to the courts for enabling him to return to Nepal. “The courts have delivered justice to me since the Panchayat era. All courts, including the Supreme Court, have given us justice. I am grateful to the judiciary,” he said.
Recalling his imprisonment during the then King Gyanendra’s regime, Deuba said the courts had overturned a royal commission and secured his release from prison. “Even when the king imprisoned me, the court annulled the royal commission. The court released me from prison even during the Panchayat era. Even now, I have returned because the court saved me,” he said.
Deuba also touched on the legal dispute surrounding the special general convention and the Election Commission’s decision related to it. He alleged that several party leaders and cadres had been unjustly expelled after the special convention was convened despite earlier assurances that it would be held with the consent of all sides.
“It was said that a special general convention would be held with the consent of everyone. But many friends were unjustly expelled by forcibly convening the special general convention,” he said.
Saying the court would ultimately review the Election Commission’s decision, Deuba refrained from commenting extensively on the case, which remains sub judice.
‘I am a Hindu’
The most striking portion of Deuba’s address came when he spoke about religion and religious freedom. Responding to questions about his personal faith, Deuba made it unequivocally clear that he identifies as a Hindu. He said his ‘Bratabandha’ (sacred thread wearing ceremony) was performed according to Hindu rituals and that he continues to worship at the Pashupatinath Temple.
“Many friends have been asking me to speak about Hinduism. I am personally a Hindu. My ‘Bratabandha’ was also performed according to Hindu rituals,” he said. He also recalled observing Hindu customs and traditions in his family and said he continues to worship at Pashupatinath.
Then came his emphatic declaration: “I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu.”
But Deuba immediately drew a distinction between personal faith and religious freedom, stressing that being a Hindu should never mean disrespecting followers of other religions. “I say there should be religious freedom in Nepal. While talking about religious freedom, no one can tell Nepali Hindus that they cannot be Hindus,” he said.
Deuba maintained that every Nepali citizen should have the freedom to practice his or her religion and said he would respect the wishes of the Nepali people on matters concerning the country’s religious future.
Respect for all faiths
Although he strongly affirmed his Hindu identity, Deuba emphasized that his faith does not diminish his respect for other religions. He expressed deep admiration for Lord Gautam Buddha and said Buddhism has earned worldwide recognition, including discussions of its philosophical and scientific dimensions.
“I have immense love and faith in Lord Gautam Buddha. Buddhism is accepted around the world,” he said. Deuba also expressed respect for the Kirat Rai community’s tradition of nature worship, saying he admired their reverence for nature. “The Kirat Rais of Nepal have a tradition of worshipping nature. I deeply respect the love they show for nature. But still, I am a Hindu. I love all religions,” he said.
A carefully measured political message
Deuba’s appearance and brief remarks came at a politically sensitive moment for the Nepali Congress, which is grappling with internal disputes, controversy surrounding the special general convention, the Election Commission’s decisions and ongoing court proceedings.
Rather than launching a direct political attack, Deuba used the occasion to underline three themes: his faith in the judiciary, his position on the party’s internal dispute and his personal commitment to religious freedom.
Yet his repeated declaration—“I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu”—stood out as the defining moment of his address, pairing a firm assertion of his personal faith with an equally clear call for religious tolerance and freedom for all.
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