US Ambassador Dean R. Thompson recently met with Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu. The meeting covered several bilateral issues of mutual concern1.
During their discussion, Chair Lingden raised concerns about American politician Brian Mast’s claim that the Biden administration had allocated half a million US dollars to promote atheism in Nepal. However, Ambassador Thompson swiftly denied these claims, emphasizing that US assistance was focused on uplifting marginalized communities rather than promoting atheism.
He clarified that US agencies were not involved in such activities, and the US government had no policy to support such endeavors.
Ambassador Thompson also highlighted that the US values Nepal’s religious harmony and unity. Furthermore, he expressed the US’s intention to return idols stolen from Nepal at various points in history and re-establish them in their respective temples and monasteries.
Additionally, Chair Lingden informed the US envoy about the RPP’s preparations for Kathmandu-centric protests, where the party had previously submitted a 40-point demand to the government. The RPP advocates for the reinstatement of the Hindu kingdom in Nepal and opposes the current federal system.
Lingden also expressed the party’s interest in investigating the properties of high-ranking political and administrative officials who held significant positions following the 1990 people’s movement, which ended the 30-year-long partyless Panchayat system and restored multi-party democracy in the country.
