Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Pashupatinath temple is in the eye of a political storm in Nepal.
The temple’s junior priests are carrying out a signature campaign in Nepal protesting what they say is forcible eviction of the head priest, who is an Indian, and four others by the Maoists.
Supporting the cause of the Indian priests, Nepal Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav said, “I hold the Maoists responsible. This is an affront to all Hindus. They want to control the temple.”
Yadav is playing the Madheshi card because his voters are descendants of Indian migrants to Nepal. He says the eviction is a violation of a Supreme Court order.
Meanwhile, Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda has pleaded ignorance about the court order while claiming that the priests resigned voluntarily.
However, Nepal’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Hisila Yami said, “It should not be taken as anti-India. It is obvious that Nepali priests should be at Pashupatinath if the Indians have resigned.”
Sensing a political opportunity, the BJP and the deposed monarch Gyanendra have advised all to desist from politics. The saffron party now wants the Indian Government to intervene in the matter.
BJP President Rajnath Singh said, “This is not an internal matter of Nepal. This affects cultural and religious ties between India and Nepal.”
And even though India's traditional ally the Nepali congress is also opposing the move, South Block is unlikely to step in.
The UPA won’t want to be seen to be caving in to the BJP's Hindutva agenda. Neither will it want to jeopardise a delicate relationship with a neighbour which historically has been prickly about big brother India.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.