Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed worries over the religious and racial tensions flaring in some parts of the country, of late.
Issuing a press note on Friday, Bhandari has said that she has been worried by the religious and racial confrontations that have posed a challenge to social, religious and cultural harmonies subsisting in the country for years.
“I would like to appeal to one and all to be responsible and exercise restraints,” she said, “Anti-nationalist elements are using Nepali brothers against one another through dissemination of misleading information, thereby disrupting peace and social harmony.”
She has said that Nepal has been embracing religious, cultural, linguistic and tribal diversities as the beauties and heritages of the country for years.
The former President reminded that the Constitution of Nepal has defined the nation as all the Nepalese people, with multiethnic, multilingual, multi-religious, multicultural characteristics and in geographical diversities, and having common aspirations and being united by a bond of allegiance to national independence, territorial integrity, national interest and prosperity of Nepal, collectively constituting the nation.
Noting that the constitution provides respect and the right to equality to all Nepali people, she stressed on the fact that our constitution, laws and political structure have given adequate space to all citizens to follow without hindrance their respective faiths, culture and customs.
"In our country there is no such situation in which anyone has to harbor the feeling of superiority or inferiority due to one's particular geographical, racial, linguistic or cultural background," former President Bhandari said, stressing the need of eliminating several evil practices, bad feelings and discontent still existing in society as vestiges of history.
She underscored on taking the climate of mutual trust and tolerance to a new height, stating that the security and dignity of all citizens can be ensured in society only by maintaining the racial and religious goodwill.
"Civilizations like Janak, Buddha, Vedic, Shaiva and nature-worship that have developed in the soil of our own country have been providing us with this very education," the former President said, calling upon all to internalize the guidelines of our civilizations at the present time. She viewed that although there are challenges before us to take the society ahead towards the path of progress and prosperity, we have a strong resolve within us.
Stating that once again there is a need for all Nepali to be united, without being influenced by any kind of divisive tendencies, to protect the racial, religious and social harmony that is the foundation of Nepal's identity and progress, she stressed that every citizen should have the feeling of dignity and as an integral part of the whole who is committed for nation building.
The former President heartily appealed to one and all to stand for social unity, awareness and vigilance while expressing the belief that our commitment towards a strong national sentiment and goodwill will guide us to consistently move ahead.
