All Siddhivinayak devotees should remember that Maharashtra Govt. took over the Siddhivinayak trust in 1981. Maharashtra Govt. appoints custodians and trustees for the temple to manage its activities. Donations made by devotees in Millions rest in the hands of these appointed trustees.
The Donations from the devotees are being misused as per the whims and fancies of the trustees and Government. Millions of rupees are siphoned of into companies owned by Ministers, for their use. While this matter was sub-judice, the trustees blew up Millions on their meetings in 7 stars hotels! Is blowing up the hard earned money of devotees, not a cruel mockery of democracy?
Donations from devotees should be spent on the religious matters only!
Temples are the ancient and age old foundations of our Sanatan Dharma. Knowing the importance of the tenets of Dharma, anti-social and anti-religious groups launched their attack on Sanatan Dharma. In fact, we should be spreading the teachings of Sanatan Dharma through the temples all over India. Hegemony of the politicians empowers them to misuse their powers and shake the very roots of our Hindu Dharma. Donations received by temples should be used for spreading spirituality, imparting knowledge to devotees on Dharma and for the upkeep of the temples. Part of the Donations should be utilized for social and educational upliftment. But what is the ground reality today?
On the backdrop of politicians looting public funds, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust organized a 'Temple Summit' in a Seven Star hotel and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti protested, called for cancellation of the Summit and handing over of the trust to a council of devotees. The HJS demanded that the Temple Trust money misused should be compensated fully by the Government.
An 'International temple summit' was held on 28th and 29th January 2006 at a Seven star Hotel Grand Central Sheraton, Mumbai. This 'Seven Star summit' was hosted by Sree Siddhivinayak temple trust Hindu Janajagruti Samiti found out (under the RTI) what was spent by the Sree Siddhivinayak trust on the extravaganza called ‘International temple summit’.
The High Court appointed a special enquiry committee led by Shri Vijay Tipnis, ex-magistrate, to examine the monetary affairs of the Siddhivinayak temple trust. The Report submitted by the committee exposed the trust and its corrupt affairs to the world.
