How will the Government, which failed to run the corporations, manage the temples ?

Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar writes a letter to the Government to cancel the takeover of Sadguru Shri Balumama Devasthan

Mumbai – “There is either corruption or mismanagement in the temples like Pandharpur’s Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple, Tuljapur’s Shri Bhavanidevi Temple, Mumbai’s Shri Siddhivinayak Temple and Shirdi’s Shri Saibaba Temple, which are under Government’s control. Many financial boards and development corporations of the Government have gone bankrupt due to corruption. Owing to this situation, on what basis is the Government guaranteeing the management of Sadguru Shri Balumama Devasthan ?”, asked Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, in a letter to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on 3rd January. He demanded to stop the process of Government takeover of this shrine.

In this letter, Advocate Ichalkaranjikar has referred to the fact that Gopichand Padalkar, a BJP MLA in the Legislative Council, had demanded on 2nd August 2023 that Sadguru Balumama Devasthan should be brought under the Government control by making a law similar to the temples in Pandharpur and Shirdi. Advocate Ichalkaranjikar has further stated in the letter that on the demand of MLA Padalkar, the Charity Commissioner has sought the opinion of the Joint Commissioner of Kolhapur.

Points highlighting mismanagement in Government controlled temples

Adv Virendra Ichalkaranjikar

Advocate Ichalkaranjikar also brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, the mismanagement in the Government-run temples.

1. Tuljapur Devasthan

Attempts to suppress corruption in this temple have been ongoing for many years. Several years have passed since the Crime Branch recommended that a case be registered regarding the donation box auction matter, but no FIR has been registered yet. Crimes were reported in cases of missing jewellery. Complaints of the devotees about not getting the necessary facilities are still there.

2. Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Devasthan at Pandharpur

Bombay High Court had to intervene in the land management work. Several kilograms of plastic were found in the stomachs of cows in Goshala (cowshed)—a scam in the contract of making ladoo (sweets) which is distributed as prasad to devotees.

3. Saibaba Temple, Shirdi

Hon’ble Bombay High Court had to order that ‘no decision shall be taken without seeking Court’s permission’.

4. Shri Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai

The report of the Justice Tipnis Committee criticised the improper distribution of wealth. There is no action by the Government on those who were found guilty.

Investigate the failure in managing the Government-run Temples

The CM should give the order to investigate why there are repeated cases of failures in the management of Government-run temples. Through this letter, advocate Ichalkaranjikar has demanded that a commission be appointed under the chairmanship of a senior administrative officer and a former judge.