June 1, 2008
Vaishakh Krushna Dwadashi

By Staff Reporter

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Members of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) noticed that some shopkeepers in the surrounding area of famous Hindu shrine ‘Jyotiba’ displayed ‘Cross’ in their shops, for sale. ‘Jyotiba’ is a deity worshipped by many Hindus as their family deity.

The HJS members took up the matter with Shri. Bharat Satpute, ‘Gram-vikas Officer’ and Shri. Rangrao Mitake, Sarpanch and they assured to help in the matter. (Congratulations to Shri. Bharat Satpute and Shri. Rangrao Mitake for being so alert towards assaults on Dharma! – Editor) Shri. Shivadatta Phutane, a well-known person from the area took members of HJS to Shri. Ramdas Dadarane, a member of Gram-panchayat. He was explained how it was detrimental to our Dharma to sell ‘Cross’ outside the shrine of ‘Jyotiba’. Shri. Dadarane, later, went around in the market with members of HJS and guided every shopkeeper against keeping ‘Cross’ for sale and saw to it that the ‘Cross’ was taken out. He handed over these ‘Cross’ to HJS members. It was observed that one shop-keeper was trying to hide ‘Cross’ but Shri. Dadarane made him understand the issue and warned him that he would not be allowed to carry on business if he kept ‘Cross’ for sale. (Congratulations to Shri. Dadarane for taking prompt action once he came to know the issue. We need such devout Hindus for protection of Dharma! – Editor) Thereafter, HJS members visited Ratnagiri Gram-panchayat to meet Shri. Bharat Satpute, Gramvikas Officer. He offered to extend help in stopping sale of ‘Cross’ by the shops within the jurisdiction of Gram-panchayat. He said, “I have noted activities of Sanatan Sanstha since I took over. The Sanstha’s activities are going on smoothly and I shall always extend cooperation to your various drives.”

Members of HJS had a meeting with Shri. Ramdas Dadarane and members of Gram-panchayat. They explained how it was denigration of Dharma to keep ‘Cross’ for sale. Shri. Rangrao Mitake, the Sarpanch assured to pass a resolution for prevention of denigration of Dharma, in this manner, even in future. HJS members also enlightened them on the proposed Act of Maharashtra Government to take over management of Hindu temples. They promised to inform Shri. Vinay Kore, Minister for Solar Energy who frequently visits the shrine and make him aware of the issue. He said that all the locals from the village belong to ‘Gurav’ community and are dependent on the shrine to run their houses. He also expressed his concern that in case all temples are taken over by the Government how will the community survive? Shri. Ramesh Gadkari, Shri. Sagar Mhatre, Shri. Anil Padale, Shri. Bapu Raokar, Shri. Kalgonda Patil, Shri. Sambhaji Mane, Shri. Deepak Bhopale, Shri. Nitin Salokhe, Shri. Pramod Bendre etc. participated in the meeting. Later, in a meeting held by HJS in Kolhapur, it was unanimously decided that they would keep a vigil on every shop run outside all religious places of Hindus. Members of HJS will henceforth, keep a watch on all shops at Narasobachi Wadi, Jyotiba, Tulzapur, Pandharpur, Shirdi etc. to prevent sale of ‘Cross’.  

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