KATHMANDU, June 3: The religious visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a four-day visit to India, has become a matter of great interest in Nepal.
Dahal, chairman of one of the ruling CPN (Maoist Center), visited temples in Madhya Pradesh, India and offered prayers on Friday. The photo has courted a serious controversy, although Dahal's supporters have chosen to defend it.
Dr Bhattarai slams PM Dahal for agreement with India
Dahal, who has never performed a special worship at the Pushpatinath temple in Nepal, wore an ocher robe at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Indore, India, on Friday. Additionally, he also offered a garland of 108 kg of Rudraksha i.e. beads. He prayed for the health of his ailing wife Sita Dahal and donated Rudraksha and cash.
This step of Prime Minister Dahal was criticized by his former colleague and former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Dr Bhattarai, who has abandoned the original slogan of the communists and started the Nepal Samajwadi Party.
Sharing a picture of Dahal worshiping at the Mahakaleshwar temple on social media, Dr Dahal has asked: “Where are we going? Where is the country going?” he asked.