The controversy surrounding the Indian priests at the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal continued to rage on Monday with Prime Minister Prachanda saying the priests would be allowed to perform duties but a minister in his cabinet charging that the priests were guilty of corruption.
The Nepali culture minister said, "We found irregularities in the treasury and hence we are making it public. The Bhandaris are afraid of exposure and hence they are disrupting the proceedings but still we are talking to them."
Priests inside the temple told the media that they were not being allowed to perform worship rituals. Temple insiders, including Nepalis want Indian priests to be reinstated and want India to intervene on their behalf.
Maoists say that the matter is beyond court jurisdiction as the temple board is an autonomous body.
The temple and its surroundings area were declared a prohibited area as public anger continued to mount over the Maoists’ forced entry into the premises.
Rallies, demonstrations and press conferences have been banned in the vicinity..
The announcement came after fresh violence erupted in the area with angry locals and students protesting against the Maoist government’s decision to remove Indian priests and appoint Nepali successors.
Protesters burnt tyres and pelted stones at vehicles and blocked part of the way leading to the temple.
With the ruling coalition in Nepal sending out conflicting signals, New Delhi is yet to decide whether or not the developments should be viewed as anti-India.
With various organizations expressing solidarity with the ousted priests and the General Elections around the corner, New Delhi may soon intervene in the matter.
The Nepali culture minister said, "We found irregularities in the treasury and hence we are making it public. The Bhandaris are afraid of exposure and hence they are disrupting the proceedings but still we are talking to them."
Priests inside the temple told the media that they were not being allowed to perform worship rituals. Temple insiders, including Nepalis want Indian priests to be reinstated and want India to intervene on their behalf.
Maoists say that the matter is beyond court jurisdiction as the temple board is an autonomous body.
The temple and its surroundings area were declared a prohibited area as public anger continued to mount over the Maoists’ forced entry into the premises.
Rallies, demonstrations and press conferences have been banned in the vicinity..
The announcement came after fresh violence erupted in the area with angry locals and students protesting against the Maoist government’s decision to remove Indian priests and appoint Nepali successors.
Protesters burnt tyres and pelted stones at vehicles and blocked part of the way leading to the temple.
With the ruling coalition in Nepal sending out conflicting signals, New Delhi is yet to decide whether or not the developments should be viewed as anti-India.
With various organizations expressing solidarity with the ousted priests and the General Elections around the corner, New Delhi may soon intervene in the matter.
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