KATHMANDU: Maoist cadres and former executive members of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) today padlocked all departments of the Trust.

They demanded that the PADT authorities should revoke their recent decision to 'appoint two Indian priests in the Pashupatinath Temple'.

The daily functioning of the Secretariat, Planning Division, Trust Office, General Department, Physical Construction Section, Resource Mobilisation Unit, Account Section, Amalkot Kachahari and Revenue Collection Office came to a standstill due to the padlocking.

The protesters warned that they would persist with their agitation till the UML-led coalition government took a firm decision on appointment of Nepali priests in the shrine. The protests were led by ex-PADT officials who owe their allegiance to the UCPN-Maoist.

The incident occurred even as the Priest Appointment Regulations' case is being heard in the Supreme Court. A Priest Appointment Struggle Committee, led by Dr Rishi Prasad Sharma, has been set up to intensify the agitation. Paramananda Shakya, ex-member secretary, PADT, accused the temple administration of defying the national integrity.

"Nobody is empowered to take a unilateral decision to appoint Indian priests. Besides,

Nepali priests are as capable as their Indian counterparts to perform the rituals," he alleged.

Sushil Nahata, member secretary, PADT, however, maintained that the appointment of Indian priests was nothing but rumour.

"We're yet to take any decision since the matter is still pending in the apex court. The agitators are trying to tarnish the image of the shrine," he claimed.