With Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dhal Prachanda showing no signs of honouring the stay order issued by the Supreme Court on the appointment of the priests at Pashupatinath, political parties have come together to oppose the Government’s interference in the affair.

All major political parties protested the Government’s move and held demonstrations against the move. The Rastriya Janashkati Party headed by former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa gave a call for mass disobedience saying “the Government, by not honouring the court order deliberately, has given a sound basis for the people to defy it”. The Rastriya Janata Party that advocates restoration of the monarchy also took out a procession. People in the procession shouted slogans that the country will disintegrate as Maoists were attacking democractic institutions of Nepal — monarchy, media, and the army. The Nepali Congress, the main opposition party, had its senior legislators leading the procession to express their solidarity with those opposing Maoist intervention.

However, the Government has showed no signs of letting old priests, all from India to conduct worship. The Information Minister and Government spokesperson K B Mahara said, “Those who were silent about Pashupatinath’s huge fund being exploited by the royal palace and India are opposing the appointment of Nepali priests.” He also said Indian leaders who are demanding reinstatement of the priests were interferring in Nepal’s internal affairs.