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Illegal church in Solapur and misconduct by a municipal employee to be investigated

  • Follow-up by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Hindu Rashtra Sena bears fruit

  • After the Solapur Municipal Commissioner, the State Government also initiates action

Office-bearers of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti submitting a memorandum to Minister of State for Law and Justice Ashish Jaiswal

Solapur, June 30 (News) – Solapur Municipal Commissioner Dr Sachin Ombase has ordered a thorough inquiry into the alleged misconduct of Dattatray Kanepagul alias Yohan Mark Kanepagul, a clerk in the Health Department of the Solapur Municipal Corporation, who is accused of illegally using the government community hall at Bapujinagar as a church, creating religious discord in the locality, and obtaining a government job by misusing reservation meant for Hindus. The Commissioner has issued a written order directing the Deputy Commissioner of the General Administration Department, Mrs Sonali Yadav, to submit an immediate report.

Hindu Rashtra Sena and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had been consistently pursuing this matter. Considering its seriousness, former Minister and BJP MLA Subhash Deshmukh had demanded that the Solapur Municipal Commissioner order an immediate inquiry. The demand has received a positive response.

Minister of State for Law and Justice Ashish Jaiswal has also intervened directly in view of the seriousness of the matter and directed the Solapur District Collector to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and submit an immediate report. As both the Municipal Commissioner and the Minister of State have simultaneously initiated investigations, it is now evident that the matter will be examined from every angle.

Direct encroachment on government property

The Solapur Municipal Corporation had leased the government community hall only for social, cultural and educational activities. The lease period has already expired. Despite this, the public building has been illegally converted into a church in violation of several conditions of the original agreement, amounting to direct illegal encroachment. There are also complaints that loudspeakers are being used to disturb residents, poor Hindus are being converted to Christianity, and statements hurting religious sentiments are being made there.

Municipal employee Kanepagul secured a government job under the reservation meant for the Hindu Mochi community. However, he has now embraced Christianity and is serving as the chief pastor of the Jesus Gospel Society. Availing of dual benefits while continuing in government service amounts to a serious offence of defrauding the government.

National leaders’ birth anniversaries are not allowed to be celebrated

Residents are prevented from celebrating the birth anniversaries of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jambhulamuni Maharaj in this public community hall. Highly objectionable remarks against Hindu Deities are made through loudspeakers in a systematic attempt to disturb communal harmony.

Major demands of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has demanded that the lease agreement between the Solapur Municipal Corporation and the Jesus Gospel Society be cancelled immediately, the premises be sealed, and the community hall be restored for public use.

The Samiti has also demanded the immediate dismissal of municipal employee Kanepagul for violating the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979. In addition, it has sought a fresh verification of his caste certificate for misusing the Scheduled Caste reservation and the registration of stringent criminal cases against him for defrauding the government. (Why should such demands have to be made? The administration itself should take action. – Editor)

“We welcome the inquiry orders issued by the administration and the Minister of State for Law and Justice. The administration should now seal the unauthorised church premises within the next 15 days without any delay and take stringent legal action against those responsible. Otherwise, we will launch a democratic agitation,” warned Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh State Organiser of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.

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