Kathmandu December 6:
With the controversial appointment of the priests at one of the Hindu’s foremost shine Pashupatinath, the Supreme Court has given stay order for the appointment of the new priests and has directed the government not to involve politics and favoritism with religion. Issuing an interim order on Thursday, the Apex Court had asked the government and Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) not to let the newly appointed Nepali priests offer worship at the temple till the SC issues its final verdict on the case.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday said the government would honor the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive.
Despite the SC order, both the government and PADT had assigned the newly appointed priests along with their new assistants the job of offering worship at the temple.
According to a resigned priest, “we are compelled to resign as we don’t have any option except to resign. We also agree to the fact that Nepalese people, they should be given the opportunity of being the head priest but just by force and using political means was not correct, it could have been sorted out in a more better and proper way. No matter what, we came from so far with just the prestige to worship the god and this is what we get is something which disgraces god and the tradition of Pashupatinath.”
Moreover, Amar Singh, the General Secretary of India’s Samajbadi Party Amar Singh while on a visit, expressed regret that CPN (Maoist) had politicized a time-honored tradition by sacking South Indian priests at Pashupatinath.
“This is the first time I am here in Nepal and can’t visit Pashupatinath. I am leaving with a heavy heart,” he said.
Amar Singh said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had assured him that his party would follow the Supreme Court stay order on the new appointment of Nepali priests and continue with the Indian priests.
By Shreedeep Rayamajhi