Maoist strike lands Indian pilgrims in unholy plight in Nepal
By IANSWednesday, May 5, 2010
KATHMANDU - Dozens of disappointed Indian pilgrims are among the hundreds of Indian tourists forced to leave Nepal without fulfilling their dreams, thanks to the indefinite nationwide general strike called by the former Maoist guerrillas.
Malmal Jain, 71, endured a tough bus journey from West Bengal’s Murshidabad town to Nepal’s Pokhara city, hoping for a glimpse of the revered Muktinath shrine in chilly upper northern Nepal to be followed with worship at the Pashupatinath shrine in Kathmandu.
However, Jain and eight other members of the Marwari community who arrived in Pokhara May 1 were bitterly disappointed to realise they would not be able to go to either shrine till the protest was called off.
The pilgrims are mostly in their 60s and after the bad experience, it is unlikely that they would attempt another visit to the two of the holiest Hindu shrines.
Tika Gurung from the tourist police in Pokhara said the pilgrims had been stuck in their hotel, Deurali Marwari Bhojanalaya, since May Day and were now seeking police help to be escorted to the nearest border exit.
“They are likely to be escorted out tonight,” Gurung said.
On Tuesday night, 189 more Indian tourists were herded by security forces to the Sunauli border point at 10 p.m.
The group included 70 people from Chennai, who had arrived April 30. Though they were able to make it to Muktinath, their plans to proceed to Pashupatinath came to a naught as the strike forced them to stay on in Pokhara.
It was the same story for a third group of 48 pilgrims from Bangalore who made it to Muktinath but had to leave without a glimpse of the Pashupatinath shrine.
Gurung said Tuesday morning, police had escorted 218 more Indians, mostly pilgrims, to the Sunauli exit point.
The Maoist strike is also feared to come in the way of pilgrims bound for Mt Kailash and Mansarovar.
Many make their way through northern Nepal and cross into Tibet. However, the indefinite strike is bound to throw the plans out of gear.
