[Let me add to the debate] Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade) was a landmark United States Supreme Court case establishing that most laws against abortion violate a constitutional right to privacy, overturning all state laws outlawing or restricting abortion. It is one of the most controversial decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history. The consequence of that Supreme Court decision was that religious conservatives in the US found a rallying cry to unite and fight for. In every election (local, state or national) since, the abortion issue has become the hot-button issue and has driven legions of religious conservatives to the voting booth. And they are credited for bringing Reagan in '80 & '84 and W Bush in '00 & '04 and forcing out H Bush in '92. The abortion issue is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the rhetoric is getting louder as the religious conservatives sense a victory within their sight. That's the reason for conservative backlash when Harriet Meyer was chosen to succeed John Roberts in the US Supreme Court. The long-term consequence of that "simple decision" in 1973 is that the political center in the US has shifted radically to the right. If Cameron-led Tory in the UK or Chirac-led Gaullist in France had been in the US, they would have been considered "Commies" The elimination of "Hindu State" in Nepal might be the "Roe vs Wade" decision of Nepal. It could be the rallying cry for the disgruntled Mandales, right-wing elements within the security services (RNA) and Hindu revivalists. It could provide them a "simple yet appealing slogan" to energize their erstwhile discouraged base. I won't be surprised if a Nepali version of LK Advani emerges in not too distant future and makes Hindustva the "wedge issue", the much used word in the contemporary American political parlance. It might be useful to remember that BJP in India used the same issue during its meteoric rise from 1984-96. In 1984 it had only 2 seats in the parliament but in the aftermath of "Ayodhya Rath Yatra" the BJP was able to use Hindustva as a wedge-issue to divide the secularist Congress already mired in the Bofor scandal. By the time the VP Singh government imploded, the BJP was the main opposition party. I consider myself a non-practicing Hindu (and Buddhist) and I would personally like to remove the tag, "Hindu State" because the Shah bansa had exploited it to its benefits. But I fear the downside of removing the tag. Although Hindu traditions were celebrate nationally, Nepalese people on the whole were very secular. I am fearful that Hindu revival may take root in Nepal and divide the country along religious and communal lines. If the "clash of civilizations" occurs in Nepal (god forbid), the 10-year Maoists insurgency would be a footnote in Nepal's history.