CFON complaints over lack of implementation of past agreements

Kathmandu, 25 March, 2015 : The Christian Federation of Nepal (CFON) has complained that the government was not implementing any of the agreements reached between the Federation and governments in the past, including providing the cemetery in Kathmandu for the burial of the dead Christian people.

CB Gahatraj, Secretary General of the Federation shared that Christians here been taking the corpse out of valley or to the river bank of Trishuli for lack of proper ground in the Capital city for burial of the corpse.

As per the Christian tradition, the corpse is buried in the ground as the final rites.

Secretary General Gahatraj argued that although the country embraced secularism, the government was reluctant to swing into action for the implementation of the pacts signed in the past.

According to him, although the then Minister for Culture Gangalal Tuladhar-led team had signed a three-point agreement with the Federation, vowing to provide appropriate land for cemetery, it did not come into practice.

Similarly, the then Minister for Peace and Re-construction Top Bahadur Rayamajhi-led team had also signed another six-point agreement with the Federation in 2013, agreeing to accredit church as a religious trust, to form a separate Christian Commission.

The Federation blamed the government for dillydallying implementation of the past agreements, however, Khumraj Punjali, the Secretary of the Ministry of Peace refuted it.

Secretary Punjali said the government was preparing to form a committee comprising representatives of various ministries and government bodies to address various issues agreed in the past pact.

According to the latest census, there are around 375,000 Christians in the country whereas the Federation claims that there are 2.5 million Christians and  850,000 churches.

The Pashupati temple area, where the cremation of Hindu people of some specific caste takes place, does not allow the burial of the corpse of other religious people, shared Dr Govinda Tondon, Member Secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust.

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