Christians in Nepal have expressed growing apprehension after a delegation of Hindu religious leaders met with the government and demanded that Nepal be declared a Hindu nation.  

These concerns intensified following communal violence on July 26 in the Sunsari district of the Tarai region in Eastern Nepal, which resulted in at least three deaths and several serious injuries. 

The clash initially began in Dewanganj, Sunsari, after members of the Muslim community objected to loud music and the replacement of religious flags on poles during a Hindu Bolbam procession.  

Government authorities later deployed security forces and imposed an indefinite curfew in the area. The issue was subsequently politicized, spreading into neighboring districts and escalating into a major national concern. 

According to media reports, the government and representatives of several Hindu organizations reached a 13‑point agreement in Janakpur following discussions led by Home Minister Sudan Gurung at the District Administration Office in Dhanusha. The agreement includes a commitment to hold an all-party discussion within three months on whether Nepal should be declared a Hindu nation. 

A local pastor, who requested anonymity, shared that one of the churches in Sunsari district was forced to shut down after receiving threats from a radical Hindu mob.  

As an alternative, the pastor has moved church activities online via Zoom. He explained that challenges persist, especially when sharing the gospel in villages and public junctions, where locals often call Hindu activists or leaders to intimidate or chase away Christians. 

Another pastor noted that although Christians were not physically harmed during the recent Muslim–Hindu conflict, several Hindu activist groups in the Tarai — such as Hindu Jagaran, Hindu Samrat Sena, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Nepal Bajrang Dal units, and others — continue to threaten Christians, obstruct gospel preaching, and target minority Christian communities. 

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