Kolhapur, Maharashtra – Previously, during the ‘Urs’ (Death anniversary of a Sufi leader) held in the name of Rehan Malik at Vishalgad, animals were sacrificed in large numbers. As a result, meat and blood would scatter everywhere, defiling the sanctity of Vishalgad. Recently, on 14 May, the government banned animal slaughter and alcohol consumption at Vishalgad.
Just as the district administration denied permission to the birth anniversary celebrations of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Vishalgad on 14 May, permission for the Urs scheduled in the name of Rehan Malik from 28 to 30 May should also be denied. Furthermore, all illegal encroachments there must be demolished. These demands were made by Shri. Nitin Shinde, the State President of the ‘Hindu Ekta Andolan’ and former MLA, while addressing a protest outside the Kolhapur District Collector’s office.
At the conclusion of the protest, a memorandum detailing these demands was submitted to the Resident Deputy District Collector, Gajanan Gurav.
A large number of officials and activists from various Hindu organisations were present on this occasion, including Shri. Deepak Desai (Kolhapur District President of Hindu Ekta Andolan), Shri. Gajanan Todkar (City President), Shri. Shivanand Swami of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shri Babasaheb Bhople of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, Shri Rambhau Methe and Shri Nitin Kakade of Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti, Shri. Ashish Lokhande (City Worker of Shri Shivajiraje Pratishthan Hindusthan), and Shri. Kishore Ghatge (Deputy District Chief of Shiv Sena).
Vishalgad pujaris facing livelihood crisis
Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Gajanan Todkar, City President of the ‘Hindu Ekta Andolan’, said, “As the number of tourists visiting the fort is currently very low, the pujaris working in the temples there are struggling to earn a livelihood. The administration should therefore develop the site by highlighting the history of Pavankhind, installing informative sculptures, and establishing a ‘Shiv Srishti’ (historical exhibition). This will boost tourist footfall and provide sustainable income for the pujaris.”
