Marwari community opposes KMC's control over Gaushala Dharmashala

Kathmandu, October 15 — Various social and religious organizations in Kathmandu have protested against the Pashupati Area Development Trust's plan to transfer the operation of the Pashupati Gaushala Dharmashala from the Marwari Sewa Samiti to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). They have strongly condemned KMC's actions, describing them as an attempt to seize the Gaushala Dharmashala through intimidation.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Marwari Sewa Samiti and various religious and social organizations gathered for a discussion, where they voiced their opposition to this move. They stated that the attack on the Pashupati Gaushala Dharmashala is not only against the Marwari community but also an assault on the sacred land associated with Lord Pashupatinath, revered by Hindus.

At the event organized by the Hindu Rashtra Swaabhimaan Jaagaran Abhiyan (Hindu Nation Pride Awakening Campaign), participants highlighted the need for accommodation and food arrangements for Hindu devotees coming from around the world. They pointed out that the Gaushala is currently caring for cows and providing free dialysis for nearly a hundred kidney patients. They accused the trust's member secretary of obtaining significant financial benefits from land mafias by handing over management of the building to the municipality, contrary to existing laws and agreements.

Former Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli, present at the discussion, stated that the attack on the Pashupati Gaushala Dharmashala is not a trivial matter, but rather a small beginning of a larger conspiracy against those who hold faith in Hinduism. He claimed that the Pashupati Area Development Trust has become a recruitment center for Christian missionaries in recent years, warning that it is unacceptable to allow churches and mosques to operate on the trust's land while hindering Hindus from running the Gaushala.

Narottam Baidya, a former chairman of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, also expressed that the current officials have unfairly troubled the Marwari Sewa Samiti. He remarked, "If the Marwari Sewa Samiti had desired, they had numerous opportunities to register that land in their name, but they never did." He stated that the trust made a significant mistake by forcibly involving the municipality in this matter and criticized the decision to hand over the Ministry of Culture's land to the municipality.

The event was attended by representatives from various organizations, including the World Hindu Council Nepal and the World Hindu Federation. Devesh Jha, General Secretary of the Hindu Nation Pride Awakening Campaign, mentioned that while this incident may appear trivial from the outside, it represents a significant conspiracy from within. He expressed doubts about the role of the trust's member secretary, Milan Thapa, and compared Mayor Balen's methods of seizing the Dharmashala to those of a gang leader. Representatives from attending organizations showed solidarity with the Marwari Sewa Samiti's demand to manage the Dharmashala.