Kathmandu, Sep 5 (Inditop.com) Amid mounting concern and condemnation by the Indian government, Nepal’s Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday stepped into the Pashupatinath temple row, promising tough action against those who had attacked and stripped two Indian priests inside the 5th century shrine the day before.
While Nepal sent Culture Minister Minendra Rijal to the shrine Saturday morning to watch over the initiation of newly appointed Indian priests Girish Bhatt and Raghavendra Bhatt, the premier also said during the inauguration of a hospital in the city that the opposition Maoist party was trying to foment trouble.
They had not even spared the Pashupatinath shrine, the communist prime minister said.
“But the government will bring the perpetrators under the force of law,” Nepal said. “This government is no weakling.”
Riot police Saturday arrested 30 protesters and baton-charged others to clear the road leading to the temple.
Though the Pujari Nijukta Birodh Sangharsha Samiti – the committee formed to oppose the appointment of Indian priests – says it is apolitical and following the desire of all Nepalis, the violent protests are believed to be led by the opposition Maoist party, which during its tenure last year tried to halt the hiring of Indian priests.
