‘CM Thackeray Agrees on Sai Baba’s Birthplace,’ Say Shirdi Locals

Shirdi residents reportedly fear that if Pathri becomes famous, the flow of devotees to their town will dwindle.

The administration of the Shirdi Sai Baba temple has reportedly said that the temple will close indefinitely starting Sunday, 19 January, amid rising tensions over the birthplace of the 19th century saint.

(Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)

After meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, locals of Shirdi claimed on Monday, 20 January, that the CM has accepted the temple town as the original birthplace of 19th century saint Sai Baba, sources told The Quint.

“People of Shirdi are satisfied with what he said. He has assured us that no new dispute will be created and we are ending the matter,” said Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust delegation representative and Shiv Sena leader Kamlakar Kothe.

A day ago, locals of Shirdi in Maharashtra called off the pre-planned bandh that was to take place on Monday.

The bandh was called on Sunday, in Shirdi against Thackeray’s reported comment calling Pathri (in Parbhani) Sai Baba’s birthplace.

Shops, eateries, various other commercial establishments and local transport had remained shut in the Shirdi temple town in response to the proposed bandh.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray then convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

The bandh began at midnight, but the Sai Baba temple remained open with devotees being allowed to offer prayers, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

The ‘prasadalaya’ and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said.

However, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, “When I enquired about today's footfall of devotees at Shirdi, I came to know that it dropped by 10,000. I also got to know that people cancelled their bookings at hotels in the temple town.”

Why Was the Bandh Called?

The announcement came one day after BJP MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil said the people of Shirdi might launch a "legal fight" over the issue to protest Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's announcement of a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of Pathri in Parbhani district, believed to be Sai Baba's birthplace by a section of devotees.

“Why has the issue of Sai Baba's birthplace come to the fore suddenly after the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government replaced the BJP-led regime in the state? No political leader can determine what was Sai Baba's birthplace," he had said on Friday.

‘Just A Rumour,’ Says Temple CEO

Reacting to the reports, Dipak Muglikar, Chief Executive Officer of Sai Temple in Shirdi said, “There are some reports in media that Sai Temple in Shirdi will remain closed on 19 January. I want to clarify that it is just a rumour.”

“The temple will remain open on 19 January,” he added.

Karmabhoomi Vs Janmabhoomi

NCP leader Durrani Abdullah Khan claimed on Thursday that there was enough evidence to prove that Sai Baba was born in Pathri.

"While Shirdi is Sai Baba's 'karmabhoomi' (place of work) Pathri is 'janmabhoomi' (birthplace) and both places have their own importance," he said.

Adding that this was the reason why Pathri deserved funds for development, Khan had also claimed that the people of Shirdi had no issues with the fund allocation, but were against Pathri gaining recognition that could rival Shirdi.

Shirdi, located in Ahmednagar district where Sai Baba, a 19th century spiritual leader, lived, attracts lakhs of devotees every year.

The controversy began after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's announcement of a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of Pathri located in Parbhani district.

“Even the residents of Pathri had never raised this issue in the past,” Patil claimed, adding that Sai Baba never spoke about his birthplace. "We think `karmabhoomi' is more important than ‘janmabhoomi’," he added.

State PWD minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan defended the government's decision to provide funds to Pathri. Chief Minister Thackeray took a positive decision to develop the Sai Janmasthan temple in Pathri to provide facilities to devotees who visit the place, he said."It will be improper to deprive them of facilities due to the controversy over the birthplace," he had tweeted in Marathi.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and PTI)