According to Narayan Prasad Dhakal, an HSS member, they carried out two hours street protests at various cities in the country including Kathmandu, Birgunj, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi and Mahendranagar.
In Kathmandu, the group disrupted vehicular movement at Gaushala for two hours from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Gaushala on Monday. The group began a protest demonstration from the western gate of Pashupatinath temple and marched to Gaushala crossroads and blocked the traffic. They chanted slogans against what they called political interference in religious matters.
“Hindus will not tolerate any more political interference on religious matters,” said Umesh Khanal, HSS chairman said.
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and the armed police clashed on the streets of Gaushala -- disrupting traffic in the process -- to protest the appointment of new priests at Pashupati.
Zakaria Zainal/MyRepublica.com
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“Till today we have been worshiping our khukuris [Gurkha knives] and other weapons, but if such interference and high-handedness continues then we won´t hesitate to carry these weapon in public for our protection,” he added.
Khanal further said the group would continue protest in the coming days and appealed to all devout Nepalis to stand up against political interference in religious matters.
All this comes two days after Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh called President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the phone and expressed his dissatisfaction at the removal of Indian priests from Pashupatinath saying that "hurt the sentiments of people of India."
Indian news agency quoted Singh as saying: "By removing the Indian priests, the Maoist forces have not only dealt a bloody blow to the centuries-old traditions of the temple but were also trying to undermine the inherent Indo-Nepalese cultural ties."
