KATHMANDU: Priest Appointment Joint Struggle Committee (PAJSC) today said it would now opt for peaceful protest programme to ease the devotees’ access to the Pashupatinath Temple.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Paramananda Shakya, deputy coordinator of the agitating body, however, reiterated that they would not give up the stir until their demands were met.

“We’ve decided to put off the street protests and rallies at the behest of general public. But, we’ll continue with signature collection and public awareness campaign on the same,” he informed.

The number of devotees in the temple has remarkably gone down in the wake of snowballing tension over the priest appointment row due to the protests by the UCPN-Maoist supporters and members of PAJSC for over a week now.

However, the padlocks fixed by PAJSC in a dozen of offices under Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) are yet to be opened.

Their demands include appointment of priests through open competition, maintaining transparency of temple account, monthly allowance to priests and Bhandaris.