Kathmandu: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao
on Tuesday visited the famous Pashupatinath Temple here where two
Indian priests were beaten up by a group of Maoists a
fortnight ago.
Rao, who is on a two-day visit to Nepal, offered
prayers at the temple in the morning and met officials of the
Pashupati Area Development Trust.
However, Rao did not meet the two priests who were
attacked by Maoists.
"I came here to worship Pashupatinath to get his
blessings. I always come to Pashupatinath Temple whenever I
visit Kathmandu," she told reporters.
"I pray for his blessings and benedictions to shower
to the people of Nepal, with whom we share close ties of
friendship and partnership," she said.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood and other senior
officials also accompanied Rao to the temple ahead of her
meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Pashupati Area Development Trust Member Secretary
Shushil Nahata and Treasurer Narottam Vaidya briefed Rao about
the latest situation in the temple.
On September four, a group of Maoists barged into the
temple and assaulted Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta,
both 32 and hailing from Karnataka.
The Maoists were protesting against the recent
appointment of Indian priests.
Indian government had condemned the attack on the two
priests as an "unprovoked and criminal" act.
Bureau Report
