KATHMANDU: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has clarified that Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal did not enter the main premises of the Pashupatinath Temple wearing leather shoes.
According to PADT Acting Member Secretary Subhash Chandra Joshi, the Home Minister had visited the temple privately with his family on October 22 and did not enter any restricted area with shoes on.
He said Minister Aryal had only taken a family photograph in front of a doorway located at the Nairitya Kon (southwest corner) outside the main temple. The photograph, however, was later circulated on social media with false claims that the minister had entered the temple wearing shoes, PADT stated.
The Trust further clarified that the doorway, where the photo was taken, was opened during the tenure of Basanta Chaudhary as PADT Member Secretary in 2059 BS.
PADT added that the photograph was taken on the pavement along the route from Aryaghat toward Guhyeshwari, and that both the PADT Acting Secretary and a priest were also present in the image.
On Wednesday, Minister Aryal offered prayers at the Pashupatinath, Mrigasthali-based Gorakhnath, and Guhyeshwari temples.
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