Devotees outraged by the breach of faith by Shree Siddhivinayak temple trustees

Dear Sir/Madam,

We request you to publish the following news in your daily.

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Mumbai, 28th January – On the backdrop of politicians looting public funds, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust organizes Temple Summit in a Five Star hotel : the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti protests, calls for cancellation of the Summit and handing over the trust to the council of devotees. The Samiti held signature campaigns on 27th January and a Dharna campaign from 8.30 am to 1 pm. at the Summit venue on today.

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust is already in news for siphoning of money by politicians with one PIL waiting for the court’s final decision. Now it has arranged a Temple Summit in a five star hotel. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has demanded to stop such five star luxuries with the devotees’ donations.

The Summit commencing on 28th January; will be held for two days at the ITC GRAND CENTRAL SHERATON. Representatives of various famous Hindu shrines across the country will be participating in the Summit. All these shrines are nationalised and the representatives are Government nominees in some way or the other.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a non-political organisation, has initiated a protest campaign, demanding corrective action by the temple trustees. The Samiti had organised a signature campaign at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple yesterday and has held public protests (Dharna aandolan) at the aforementioned Summit venue for two days commencing from 28th January. The Samiti has called for participation of devotees from all walks of life in these peaceful, legitimate protests.

The devotees were furious when they signed the protest petition of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti during the protests held by the Samiti infront of the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple yesterday. Many said that the Five-star expense at the cost of the devotees’ money was a manifestation of the psychology of the Managing committee. Many criticised the politicians and the Govt. for their interference in the management of the Hindu temples’ funds. One devotee angrily remarked, ?Wo sab Bhagvan ka sona-chandi le jayenge? (they shall take away the deity’s gold and silver) In most of the temples everything from pooja to prasad is being commercialised under Govt. care. This signature campaign organised by the Samiti in front of the Siddhivinayak temple from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 27th January continued today from 8.30 am to 1 p.m. at ITC Grand Central Shereton, Parel the Five-star venue for the Temple Summit in Mumbai. The expected expenditure of the Five-star venue is said to be to the tune of Rupees 16 lacs. The devotees were very critical about the Government not using the devotees’ money for propagating and educating about Hindu Dharma.

As per the program scheduled for today the 28th January, the participants of the Summit were supposed to visit the Siddhivinayak Temple for darshan between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The chief Guest Ms. Renuka Choudhary, Union Minister for Tourism and Shri. Vijaysingh Mohite Patil, Minister of Tourism, Maharashtra State, did not turn up till 10 a.m. Except for Shri. Mayekar who reached the temple at 8.30 a.m. all other participants reached the temple around 9.15 a.m.

Sincerely,
Shree. Ramesh Shinde
Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
Maharashtra State.
Contact: 9322652711