NASHIK: Chief Minister
Uddhav Thackeray will on Monday meet a delegation of Shirdi villagers who are upset over his comments regarding
Saibaba’s birthplace
.
The chief minister’s office issued a statement saying that Thackeray would meet all stakeholders in Mumbai on January 20. Earlier on Saturday, deputy chairman of the state legislative council Neelam Gorhe told TOI that she had taken up the matter with Thackeray and appraised him of the sentiment of Shirdi villagers. “The CM will be meeting a delegation of
Shirdi locals
to discuss the issue,” she added.
She appealed to the villagers to suspend the indefinite strike they had called from Sunday till they meet the CM. Local restaurants and vendors selling religious items near the temple premises and expected to remain shut. Even autorickshaws are likely to be off the roads.
The bandh has been called to express people’s displeasure with Thackeray for mentioning Pathri, in Parbhani district, as Saibaba’s birthplace. Thackeray had also announced fund allocation for the temple in Pathri.
“I appeal to people to be patient as I am confident that all confusion would get cleared once the CM meets them,” said Gorhe.
Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi Sadhashiv Lokhande has decided to meet the villagers. “I think the CM’s words were based on a briefing given to him. Similar comments were made by a VIP about the saint’s birthplace in the past during a visit to Shirdi. The locals were peeved, but it was sorted out later. I am sure that this issue too would be resolved amicably,” said Lokhande.
CEO of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, Deepak Muglikar, issued a statement saying darshan at Shri Saibaba Temple, all aartis and all religious traditions will continue. Moreover, all the facilities from Sansthan would be functioning normally.
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