Kathmandu, Aug. 16 -- "I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu, I am a Hindu."

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who returned to Nepal last Thursday after spending nearly five months abroad, made the emphatic statement at the closing ceremony of a three-day national gathering organised by a faction of the Nepali Congress in Sukedhara on Sunday.

He further said that his personal faith did not mean he opposed other religions or rejected Nepal's religious freedom.

"And I have love and reverence for Buddha and Buddhism. The world today recognises Buddhism. Today, Buddhism is also referred to as a scientific religion and is regarded as such. Likewise, ours is a country that respects nature-based religions. The Rai and Limbu communities follow na...