Demand for strict action against the officials who defied Maha CM’s instructions to fund the old temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

The Maharashtra government should issue an order to increase funds before the end of the winter session

The Maharashtra state government disburses a paltry monthly allowance of Rs 500 for the upkeep of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s ‘Shri Shivrajeshwar Mandira’ at Sindhudurg fort at Malvan in Sindhudurg district. Although it has been one and a half years since Hon. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered to increase this fund, it is yet to be implemented. So Mr Sunil Ghanwat (Maharashtra State Organizer of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Coordinator of Gad-Durg Rakshan Samiti) and like-minded Hindu organisations have demanded that the government must initiate stringent action against those officials who have not yet implemented this order. They also demanded that the monthly fund must be increased from 500 Rupees to at least 25 thousand Rupees before the end of the ongoing winter session in Nagpur. This Hindu organisations protested outside the Nagpur Vidhan Bhavan. Mr Sunil Ghanwat also called upon Mr Sudhir Mungantiwar, the Hon’ble Minister of Cultural Affairs and apprised him of the issue.

Mr Umakant Ranade (Secretary of ‘Chitpavan Brahmin Association’); Mr Rahul Pandey (Rashtriya Yuva Gathbandhan); Mr Abhijit Polke (Nagpur District Coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti) and others led the protests outside the Vidhan Bhavan. Mr Ghanwat said that this is the 350th year of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. Chhatrapati, who built many forts and conquered them, also restored and protected many temples. Yet the old temple of Shivaji Maharaj lies neglected. Built by Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj in the year 1695, the Maharashtra Government started disbursing a monthly allowance of Rs. 250 from 1970. Even in 2023 it has only been increased to Rs. 500. Now the question that arises is how to celebrate the annual festival with lamps, garlands, flowers, electricity, water supply, while also accounting for temple repairs and other amenities. So the time has come for the temple trustees to put up placards and ask the people for donations for the temple. This is inappropriate for a state called Maharashtra of the Chhatrapatis. This is why, one and a half years ago, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti met the then Guardian Minister Mr Uday Samant, and then called upon the Chief Minister Mr Eknath Shinde and apprised them of the seriousness of the issue. The Hon’ble CM had responded positively and immediately ordered an increase in funds, however, that order is yet to be implemented.

Mr Sunil Ghanwat further expressed the anguish of devout Hindus by demanding that the government officials who defied these orders should be posted to Sindhudurg fort for one month and asked to run the temple for 500 rupees.