Sacking of Indian priests at Pashupatinath sparks row in Nepal

Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Dec 30 (PTI) The government's decision to
sack South Indian priests from the Pashupatinath Temple in the
capital has sparked a row in Nepal, with the main Opposition
party as well as the local pro-Hindu groups protesting against
the Maoists for hurting "the religious sentiments".

The Nepali Congress, the second largest party in the
country, has raised serious objections on the Maoist-led
government's move to remove South Indian Brahmins from
capital's famous Pashupatinath Temple, one of the eight
holiest Hindu shrines, and appointing local priests in their
place.

Nepali Congress (NC) alleged that it was done in a
hurry without going through proper process and formalities.

"The way Maoist government replaced the priests
serving at the Pashupatinath Temple without fulfilling any
formality has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu
people of Nepal," said NC chief Laxman Ghimire in the
Parliament Monday.

He said the removal of the priests on the basis of a
personal decision of the member secretary of the Pashupatinath
Area Development Trust is violation of rules and a blow to the
Hindu sentiments in the country, where overwhelming majority
of the people are Hindus.

"The decision to sack the priests by changing the
centuries-old tradition should have been done through the
cabinet," he said.

In what seems to have ignited the issue in the
Himalayan nation, the World Hindu Federation (WHF Nepal
chapter) staged sit-in in front of Pashupatinath Tuesday to
oppose the Maoist government's unilateral decision.

WHF President Bholanath Jha and other executive members
of the organisation have threatened to launch an agitation if
the decision is not taken back.

"The Maoist government's decision is an attack on our
culture and tradition. This is a systematic move to reduce the
importance of Hindu religion in the country," a local resident
Bharat Jangam said.

Sujata Koirala, central committed member of NC, said the
Maoists' move to sack the priests of the temple has led to
negative impact on the mind of the people and it shows that
the ruling party is against the age-old tradition and culture
of the country.

"The people have become suspicious about their intention
after the Maoists' attack on the age old tradition,"
underlined Sujata, the daughter of former premier Girija
Prasad Koirala.

However, member secretary of the Pashupati Area
Development Trust (PADT) Parmananda Shakya justified the move,
saying that the trust appointed the new priests only after the
South Indian priests resigned from their posts coming under
the pressure from the people who accused them of
misappropriating the fund of the temple.

Pratap Malla, who was ascended to throne in Kathmandu in
1639 is believed to have brought two Bhatta Bramhins with him
during his India visit to worship at the Pashupatinath temple
which was built hundreds of years before his rule.

The Maoist government has sacked three South Indian
priests, including chief Priest Mahabaleshwor Bhatta, and
appointed Bishnu Dahal as head of the temple.

Two other South Indian priests, who are yet to submit
their resignation have also been asked to follow suit by the
authorities. PTI