Dharne movement at Gargoti against possible temple governmentization of Sant Balumama Devasthan!

C.I.D. enquire against the corruption within Balumana Devasthan! – collective demand of all Hindutva organizations.

Kolhapur – Appointing an administrator at Sant Balumama Devasthan, a place of worship for devotees not only in Maharashtra, but across the country, is the first step towards governmentalization of the devasthan which is strongly opposed by the devotees. Even after appointing an administrator, the inconveniences of the devotees continue to rise. However, action must be taken against those trustees who are guilty and a C.I.D. enquiry should be conducted against the corruption within the devasthan. At the ‘Balumama Devasthan Patron Andolan’ today at Kranti Jyoti Chowk, Gargoti, Kolhapur organized by ‘Sadguru Balumama Devasthan Patron Action Committee’ and ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’, all the Hindu organizations, religious people and devotees collectively demanded that every temple including Sant Balumama Devasthan should be freed from governmentalization and vowed to continue this fight till the culprits are punished. After the agitation, a memorandum of other demands was given to Tehsildar Smt. Ashwini Varute, including that the temple should be handed over to the sincere devotees of Balumama.

Balumama Halsiddhanath Sevakari Sanstha, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Khatik Samaj, Mulemama Devasthan Bhakta Mandal, Trustee of Mulemama Devasthan, Members of Sant Balumama Devasthan at Ujalaiwadi, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Sanatan Sanstha, Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, BJP, and more than 150 devotees including various organizations participated in this movement. Action Committee Coordinator Mr. Babasaheb Bhopale gave information about the corruption in the temple and the fight that had been set up against it. During the movement, the Kranti Jyoti Chowk was rocked with many announcements along with, “We will not allow it, we will not allow it, we will not let it happen, we will not let it happen”, “Wakf Board for mosques and madrasas, Diocesan society for churches, then why the governmentization of Balumama’s temple?”, “Balumama’s devotees must get basic facilities”, “No Rulers, no administrators, devotees want Balumama’s honest sevaks!”

Dignitaries present – Gargoti Taluka, Coordinator of Sakal Maratha Samaj Shri. Tukaram Desai, Chairman Shri. Nandu Shinde, Gram Panchayat Member Shri. Sachin Desai, MNS Taluka Pramukh Shri. Ashok Patil, Kagal Taluka Women President Mrs. Seema Gore, Shri. Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Shiv Sena’s Karveer Taluka Pramukh Shri. Raju Yadav, Provincial Vice President of Anti-Corruption Public Awareness Committee Shri. Anandrao Paval, Hindutvanishtha Shri. Rambhau Methe, the pujari of Mule Maharaj Devasthan Shri. Gangaram Chavan, President of All India Hindu Khatik Samaj Shri. Uttam Kamble, Machurlikar, from Sadguru Mule Maharaj Devasthan Shri. Namdev Shinde, most respected Sujit Mali, Appasaheb Kurade, Sada Belgaonkar and Paresh Shaha-Shethji, great-grandson of devotee Chandulal Shah-Shethji, who directly served Sant Balumama.

Viewpoints of dignitaries

Coordinator of ‘Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’ Shri. Sunil Ghanwat said, “Government has not yet been able to punish the corrupt officials who scammed the donation box worth crores of rupees in Shri Tuljabhavani temple. After this scam, once again many serious matters have come to light including the disappearance of Shri Bhavanidevi’s ancient ornaments and silver crown. Even after 38 years since the governmentalization of Shri Vitthal Mandir, more than 314 ancient jewels and ornaments have not been appraised and recorded. Many scandals have happened at Shri Vitthal Mandir which include prasad ladoos, construction of public toilets, bhakta niwas, library etc. Given this, who will guarantee that in the future after the governmentalization of Sant Balumama Devasthan, there will not be scams and corruption the same way?

So, we all should remember that Sant Balumama has chosen us as a medium to fight against corruption in Sant Balumama Devasthan and should participate in this movement. The opposition should keep in mind that this movement is to prevent corruption and mismanagement in the temple and not defamation. We are firm on the demand that there should be a C.I.D inquiry for cases of malpractices in the devasthan and we will continue to pursue it. Our fight will continue till all the temples in the country are freed from governmentalization.

President of Balumama Halsiddhanath Sevakari Sansthan Shri. Nikhil Mohite said, “Opponents must have understood that this movement will expose the affairs of the corrupt. Opponents should remember that the agitation has started today and, in the future, every village will be sparked against the corruption in the Sant Balumama Devasthan.” Shri. Sunil Samant said, “No action has been taken against the culprits, even though there have been many reports from various media against the corruption in the temple. It is the duty of the Hindus to try not to let the Devasthan fall into the hands of the corrupt secular ideologies and atheists.” Shri. S. K. Patil of Mulemama Bhakta Mandal said, “We strongly oppose the governmentalization of the Devasthan and we support the movement.” On this occasion, Shri Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sena’s Upazila Pramukh Shri. Sambhajirao Bhokare said, “Sant Balumama is our deity and the movement will continue till every last penny offered by the devotees is recovered.”

Some other demands made during the movement –

1. Devotees coming from all over the state should get adequate parking area, toilets, clean drinking water, health and other facilities. A good and well-maintained Bhakta Niwas should be built for the devotees who come from faraway places.

2. Free accessible toilets and bathrooms should be provided to devotees travelling by Murgud to Mudaltitta route.

3. Administrators should pay special attention to farm management, carelessness toward the health of sick goats and sale of male goats, and also increase wages of workers.

4. The devotees who have donated land to Sant Balumama Devasthan till date, should be officially recorded, sell the land according to the current market price and use that money for religious work.

5. The inconvenience of devotees related to unhygienic living facilities and annachhatra should be stopped during the festival season. Annachhatra service should continue uninterrupted 24 hours a day.