Sacking of Indian priests in Nepal sparks protests

The decision by Nepal’s Maoist government to end the three centuries-old tradition of South Indian priests officiating at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, the country’s holiest Hindu temple, has sparked off protests by Hindu organisations in Nepal and in India. Earlier this week, riot police were deployed at the temple premises to stop protesters as party cadres escorted their newly appointed Nepali Hindu priest, Bishnu Prasad Dahal, into the complex, in defiance of a Supreme Court order.

The move to replace the Indian priests has been sharply criticised by the dominant opposition group, the Nepali Congress, which has accused Maoists of hurting the “religious sentiments” of Hindus in the country. The move was also opposed by the local Bhandaris, who had obtained a stay order on the replacement of the Indian priests from the Nepal apex court.

The development has been criticised by Hindu organisations in India as well. “Removal of Indian priests from the Mandir is not only in complete defiance of the Supreme Court order but it has also hurt sentiments of people in India,” said BJP president Rajnath Singh.

New Delhi, however, has chosen to keep its counsel, with the Ministry of External Affairs choosing not to react over a “religious issue”. Foreign policy experts, on the other hand, cautioned against over-reacting in this matter, arguing this should not be seen as something that would affect bilateral ties with Nepal.
SD Muni, foreign policy expert, holds that the development “was just a form of assertion of identity by the new rulers.”