Maha CM to hold talks amid bandh call over Shirdi row

PUNE: A day after residents of Shirdi called for a ‘bandh’ on Sunday over a controversy related to the birthplace of 19th century saint Saibaba, Sena leader Neelam Gorhe on Saturday said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray would hold talks with the temple administration and locals on Monday to defuse the row.

Residents and leaders in Shirdi are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement where he described Pathri in Parbhani district as Saibaba’s birthplace. The CM announced a grant of ₹100 crore for development of facilities at “Sai janmasthan” (birthplace) at Pathri.

Bandh would be observed in surrounding villages too, people familiar with the matter in Shirdi said. The Saibaba temple which is visited by lakhs of devotees every year would remain open, said Deepak Mugalikar, CEO of Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

Former Maharashtra minister and Shirdi BJP MLA Radhakrishna

Vikhe-patilsaid he supported the bandh call. I support the people’s call for shutdown and CM should withdraw his statement.

Chief minister has called meeting of locals and temple trustees in the coming week, said Gorhe, deputy speaker of state legislative council. “The chief minister has assured to meet locals of Shirdi and listen to what they want to say. He will also interact with Pathri residents,” said Sena leader, who met Thackeray and apprised him about the opposition.

B Wakchaure of Saibaba Sansthan Trust said a meeting of villagers was held on Saturday evening where it was decided that market places and surrounding villages will be shut as part of the Bandh from Sunday onwards, however, the Sai Baba temple which is visited by lakhs of devotees and all its units comprising Sai Prasadalaya, Sai Hospital, Sai Bhaktaniwas and medical shops have been kept outside the purview of the shutdown.

A former trustee of Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Kailasbapu Kote, said locals and villagers from the neighbouring areas are upset with Thackeray for referring to Pathri as the birthplace of Sai Baba. “There is no bonafide proof available to prove the birthplace. Sai Baba himself never shared any information about his birthplace or religion during his stay in Shirdi.”

“We will observe an indefinite bandh to send a strong message to the government and the chief minister, as it has hurt our sentiments. The entire bandh would be peaceful and aimed at conveying our resentment to the state,” he said. The call for the shutdown in the temple town of Shirdi has been backed by the residents of 25 villages.

ASHOK CHAVAN WELCOMES THACKERAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT

“A large number of Sai devouts visit Pathri and the decision to provide funds for the development of Pathri temple is aimed at the development of the area and a welcome step. Sai Bhakts cannot be kept away from development over the issue of the place of birth of Sai Baba,” Chavan, a former chief minister, tweeted in Marathi.

(With inputs from HTC, Mumbai)