Ashram devotees warn fanatic forest officers!

Chaitra Krushna Chaturdashi

Mumbai: Under the pretence that the Ashram is unauthorized, the forest officers yesterday created a ruckus in the ashram of H.H. Sadanand Maharaj in Tungareshwar sanctuary near Vasai in Maharashtra. The incensed devotees retaliated in a fitting manner and drove them away; however the forest officers lodged a false complaint against the devotees with the police. They were expected to return to the ashram today. The fully prepared devotees were sitting in the ashram waiting for them. But the officers did not turn to ashram.

The devotees have warned that if the forest officers tried to harass them again, they will be taught a lesson of life time. Yesterday, the forest officers had killed a few peacocks in the ashram and entered the ashram with shoes on. They had also asked the Maharaj  to vacate the ashram.

The Ashram was established in 1971. The Maharashra government allotted 1.75 acres land to the ashram during the reign of the then chief minister late Shri Vasantdada Patil. The sanction letter is in possession of the Ashram authorities. In spite of the irrefutable proof, from where did the forest officers get the idea of the ashram being unauthorized? Had the ashram been unauthorized, why would have the Maharashtra government given the land to it? This is nothing but a sinister plot of some disgruntled elements out of some old rivalries.

The devotees said that they were ready to fight out the case on physical and legal level. The forest department has refused to accept the permission of the state government and has asked to seek permission from the central government. Accordingly, the ashram authorities have also sent a proposal to the central government seeking necessary permission in this regard. The ashram has been visited by Shri. Uddhav Thackarey, executive president of Shiv Sena and Shri. Eknath Shinde, MLA.

The ashram is functioning with twin objectives – spiritual and social. Among other social activities, the ashram also produces a number of Ayurvedic medicines, which are certified by the Food and Drug Authority of government of Bharat.

Source: ‘ Daily Sanatan Prabhat ‘

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