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Dispute over Appointment of Priests at Pashupati
By KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
On January 04, 2009, a group of reporters gathered at the Pashupati shrine to cover a press conference to be held by caretakers of the Pashupati shrine protesting the appointment of Nepalese priests in the vacant positions caused by the resignations of former Priests on the ground of health two months ago. Another group of youths allegedly Young Communist League (YCL) members came to disrupt the press conference chasing the caretakers and reporters from the scene.
Forty-two members of the Constituent Assembly belonging to the Nepali Congress signed off a protest note demanding reinstatement of the former priests. Similarly, other organizations affiliated to the Nepali Congress have been protesting the appointment of Nepalese priests in the vacant positions of priests at Pashupati.
Referring to the reactions of the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party of India to the appointment of the Nepalese priests at Pashupati and the telephone calls made by the leader to the President and the Prime Minister of Nepal, Nepalese political analysts said that it was natural to the reactions of the political party set up on the religious platform and it needed not be taken as an interference in the internal affairs of Nepal. Similarly, many people of the world had protested the actions of Hindus on demolishing the Babri Mosque in Ayodhaya and killing of Christians by Hindu fanatics in Orissa in India.
Replying to the question of the reporters on the comment made by former king Gyanendra Shah on the appointment of the priests at the Pashupati shrine and his call-on not politicizing the holy shrine, the concerned Minister said that as a citizen Gyanendra Shah has rights to make such a comment.
Prime Minister Prachanda said that some political parties have been attempting to give political color to the appointment of Nepalese priests to the vacant positions created by the resignations of former priests two months ago.
