LUCKNOW, INDIA, June 23: Chief Minister of India's Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has expressed hope that Nepal will be restored as Hindu state sooner or later.

Talking to a group of visiting Nepali journalists at his office in Lucknow, CM Yogi said "Every country has its own distinct identity. Nepal has also its own identity. All the Hindus around the world know Nepal as the Hindu state. I believe that Nepal will understand the sentiment of those Hindus around the world," he said.

He believed that Nepal will re-think secularism. The chief minister argued that Nepal would be connected with all the Hindus around the world at least emotionally if it is proclaimed as the Hindu state.

"Nepal has huge potential to promote its religious tourism across the world and the Hindu shrines such as Pashupatinath and Muktinath could be developed as centers of attractions for tourists from many countries. I believe that this goal will be achieved if Nepal is proclaimed as the Hindu state," he said.

Chief Minister Yogi said that India will always support Nepal on the path to happiness and prosperity. "India and Nepal share traditional cultural bonds and people-to-people relations," he said.

The chief minister vowed to fully control harassment to Nepali nationals along the India-Nepal border saying that such an act should not affect bilateral relations.

"I have already instructed the local police administration concerned to control harassment to Nepali nationals along the India-Nepal border. I am thinking to visit the bordering towns with Nepal to take the stock of the situation regarding the same," he said. Chief Minister Yogi stressed the need for tightening security along the India-Nepal border. The Uttar Pradesh government is mulling on launching the direct bus service between Gorakhpur and Kathmandu to promote religious tourism, he said.

 
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