The Bharatiya Janata Party is deeply distressed to learn about the shabby and totally unprovoked treatment meted out to the Indian priests at the sacred Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

A tradition going back three centuries, and which stood the test of time and which commands the respect of the people of Nepal, as well as millions of Hindus all over the World, has been trampled upon in a most clumsy and undemocratic manner by the Government of Nepal.

We call upon the Government of Nepal to respect the sentiments of its own people as well as the verdict of its own Court and hasten to restore the status quo ante in this regard.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri L.K. Advani, spoke on the phone with the Prime Minister of Nepal who assured him that he would make an announcement in the Nepal Parliament soon regarding the restoration of the status quo ante

* * * * *