Maharashtra Govt. relents before Warakaris’ aggressive stance about Anti-superstitions Act

Mumbai (Maharashtra) : Discussions will be held with Warakaris before passing the proposed anti-superstitions Bill. Amendments suggested by Warakaris will be incorporated and the Act will be passed after their approval. The above promises have been given by Shivajirao Moghe, the Minister for Social Justice to Warakaris in a meeting held at ‘Vidhan Bhavan’.

Maharashtra Government was hatching a plot to pass the anti-superstitions Act in the current budgetary session of the Legislative Assembly without consulting Warakaris; but they warned the Chief Minister that he would not be allowed to perform ‘puja’ at Pandharpur when the Maharashtra Government relented and extended invitation to Warakaris for holding discussions at ‘Vidhan Bhavan’. The State Government tried to gauge their opinion on the proposed Act. The Minister for Social Justice gave the above promise on behalf of the Chief Minister.

The meeting was attended by the State Home Minster R. R. Patil, Minister for Tribal Development Babanrao Pachpute, the President of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and MLA Sudhakarpant Paricharak, Congress MLA Ulhasdada Pawar, the President of Maharashtra Warakari Mahamandal H. B. P. Prakash Maharaj Javanjal, its Secretary, H. B. P. Narahari Maharaj Chaudhary, the President of Shri Warakari Prabodhan Mahasamiti H. B. P. Rameshwar Shastri Maharaj, the President of Warakari – Fadkari Organisation H. B. P. Madhav Maharaj Shivankar, Trustee of Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan Shri. Prashant Suru, Secretary of Saint Dnyaneshawr Maharaj Palakhi Sohala, H. B. P. Maruti Maharaj Kokate and 25 devout Hindus were present on the occasion.

….. then Warakari will take to roads – warning by Warakaris

If the Government passes the above Bill without taking Warakaris into confidence, Warakaris will oppose the same throughout the State and whole Maharashtra will take to the roads, was the warning given by Warakaris through a representation. It has been mentioned therein that the above warning has been given by all Warakari Organisations through ‘Sri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palakhi Sohala Dindi Samaj’. Before finalizing the draft of the Act, Warakaris will be given a copy of the said draft. Warakari representatives of different organization will hold discussions over the draft document to take a decision which will be presented before the Government. Till then, the Government should not present the Bill in the Legislative Assembly session. The Government should appoint a committee adopting Warakari representative on the same and only then, finalize the final draft. A copy of the representation was handed over to Home Minister R R Patil and Minister for Social Justice Shivajirao Moghe.

Home Minster becomes speechless with the Warakaris’ reply

In the beginning of the meeting, Home Minister R R Patil said, “Warakari should not have taken such aggressive stance with the Chief Minister. In case of ‘Dow’ also they had taken similar stance against me.” On hearing this, Warakaris said that the Government had promised about 3 years back that it would not pass the Act without discussing the issue with Warakaris; but we were never called even once. What do we do when we learnt about the issue through the newspapers? The Home Minister had no answer. He asked the Minister for Social Justice to answer this contention. Moghe said, “We will not present the Act in this session of Legislative Assembly. Modifications will be carried out to the Bill after consulting Warakaris and only then, shall we think about presenting the Bill. We have deleted few clauses from the Bill; omitted the word ‘superstition’. Warakaris should explain their objections and they will be excluded from the Act.”

Warakaris said, “The Government should first give us a copy of the draft of the Bill. We will study the same and convey our suggestions to the Government.”  Minister for Tribal Development Babanrao Pachpute has accepted the responsibility of making available 5 copies of the proposed Bill to Warakaris. The next meeting will be held when Warakaris come up with their suggestions.    

Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat