Agitations will be staged if Govt. didn’t take action against anti-social elements spreading racism

Warning by ‘Shri Mahalakshmi Devasthan Bhrashtachar-virodhi Kruti Samiti (Action committee fighting against corruption of Shri Mahalakhsmi Devasthan)

Govt. is expected to take action against anti-social elements on its own but ‘Hindutvavadis’ have to make such demand which is shameful for the Govt. !

Kolhapur : Problem is created since past few days on referring to the Deity as ‘Shri Mahalakhsmi’ or ‘Sri Ambabai’. There are two types of mindsets giving references of rock-inscriptions and historical papers to prove their point. The Government should appoint a committee of historians with neutral approach for studying the rock-inscriptions and historical papers and find permanent solution to this problem. Take stringent action against anti-social elements who are trying to spread communalism in the background of the incident which took place in Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir; else, people’s movement will be undertaken, was the warning given by Shri. Sunil Ghanavat, spokesperson of ‘action committee against corruption’, during a press conference held on 29th June.

The press conference was attended by Shri. Sambhaji Salunkhe, District-Chief of Bajarang Dal, its city-Chief Shri. Mahesh Ursal, Shiv Sena’s Kagal city-Chief Shri. Kiran Kulkarni, Shri. Sharad Mali of ‘Shri Shivapratishthan’, Shri. Sudhakar Sutar and Shri. Pramod Sawant of ‘Action committee against corruption’, Shri. Sunil Patil, District-President of ‘Patit Pavan Sanghatana’, Shri. Raju Patil, a ‘Hindutvavadi’ and Shri. Manoj Khadye, western Maharashtra Coordinator of HJS, besides Shri. Ghanavat.

Shri. Sunil Ghanavat said further that

1. Attempts are made to create communal tension taking disadvantage of dispute related to Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir since last 3 weeks. We condemn ‘Sripujaks’ for dressing up Shri Mahalakhsmi Devi idol in a ‘ghagara-choli’. Action has to be taken for such serious mistake against guilty ‘Sripujaks’ is the stand of pro-Hindu organizations.

2. Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir should not become an arena of politicians and communal people. Few progressive activists and atheists, who don’t believe in God, are hatching a conspiracy to break traditions followed in the temple and we strongly oppose the same. Meetings held in connection with temple matters were attended by Muslims and such atheists, which is objectionable. There are few atheists and progressive activists even in the temporary advisory committee formed by the Guardian Minister for proper management of temple. These persons are misusing their post for thrusting communalism on people; therefore, their interference should be immediately stopped and they should be removed from advisory committee by replacing with representatives of ‘Hindtvavadis’, devout thinkers, scholars and devotees, is our demand.

Shri. Mahesh Ursal said, “Dressing of the idol with ‘ghagara-choli’ was wrong; but why didn’t Pashchim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti immediately perform another ‘puja’ on realizing this ? Devasthan Samiti has power to issue notice; so why the secretary didn’t think of another ‘puja’ as a solution to the problem?  Why a coating is given on the idol of Shri Mahalakshmi Devi as per convenience? The Government must prepare a code of conduct for Sripujaks.”

Shri. Sambhaji Salunkhe said, “Since last few days, messages are sent on ‘Whats AP’ creating communal rift such as –‘Brahmin priest should be immediately removed from Ambabai Mandir; else, there will be repetition of what happened in 1948’. It seems that anti-social elements are trying to take disadvantage of the dispute and create law and order problem; therefore, such anti-social elements, irrespective of their caste and creed, should be found out and stringent action be taken against them by police. Help of police (Cyber Cell) should be taken for tracing senders of such perverted messages.”

Answers given by Shri. Sunil Ghanavat to questions asked by reporters

1. What do you think about threat received by Shri. Dilip Patil, an activist of ‘Sri Ambabai Mandir Sripujak Hatao Sangharsha Samiti’ ?

Shri. Ghanavat : It is wrong to threaten Shri. Dilip Patil. Police should investigate in detail for finding out the person who gave such threat. It is wrong to accuse Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti whenever such threat is received. Anti-social elements are trying to sidestep the original issue by giving such threat.

2.  What is the position of CID inquiry into Devasthan Samiti ? Are the guilty persons not yet punished ?

Shri. Ghanavat : It is also our demand that CID should speed up investigations into misappropriation of funds by Devasthan Samitis at Sri Bhavani Mandir, Tuljapur and Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir at Kolhapur and take action against the guilty. The Government shouldn’t show any favours to criminals in this case.

3. Temples should not be managed by Govt. then who should manage them ?

Shri. Ghanavat : HJS has been demanding, right from the beginning, that temples should be managed by devotees and should not be under control of the Government; because Shri Saibaba Mandir at Shirdi and Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir when taken over by the Government, corruption started on large scale. Pandharpur’s Devasthan is also under Government’s control; therefore, many problems have been created there. Devasthan didn’t properly look after cows; resulting in dying of 8 cows.