Nepal: Indian priests end 1- month strike

Kathmandu, May 18: Indian priests in Nepal on Sunday ended their month- long protest after the government agreed to provide 17 per cent allowance from the income generated by special worship at the famous Pashupatinath temple here.

A decision on this regard was taken during the talks with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at his residence in Baluwatar.

He was positive towards the demands of Indian priests and also assured them to provide with 17 per cent allowances from the temple’s special offerings, an official source said. Special worship in the Pashupatinath temple was cancelled for more than a month due to the agitation launched by the Indian priests. They were demanding 25 per cent share from the money deposited to the

● The strike came to an end after the government agreed to provide 17 per cent allowance from the Pashupatinath temple’s income

Pashupati’s account from special worship, a source at Pashupati Area Development Trust said.

The priests agreed to the talks and has agreed on 17 per cent commission from the Pashupati Area Development Trust, the officials said. The Pashupatinath temple has one chief priest and four other priests.

The chief priest is entitled to get Rs 150,000 and other priests Rs 125,000 as monthly salary from the Trust besides the allowances.