Sir — This refers to the report, “Nepal gets federal, secular Constitution” (September 21). Nepal has finally adopted its first democratic Constitution — a historic effort that survived a war, a palace massacre and a devastating earthquake, but by upsetting India.
The promulgation represents Nepal’s most direct snub to India in recent times. For nine years, after ending monarchy, Nepal has adopted a Constitution, that has left out key demands made by two major groups from the plains that border Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Madhesi and Tharu communities feel that the statute does not give them either adequate representation at the Centre or autonomy locally.
The decision of the Nepalese Constituent Assembly to opt for the secular identity can also serve as a pointer to the three Islamic republics in South Asia — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh; Nepal reaffirming that religion of a majority of people need not have anything to do with the political functioning of a state.