Conduct an immediate inquiry into mismanagement of ‘Balumama Devasthan’ at Kolhapur

• Unanimous demand of Saint Balumama devotees through ‘Devasthan Sanrakshak Morcha’
• Demand to ‘cancel likely take over by the Govt’
• More than 600 devotees participate in the march

March was taken out by the devotees of Saint Balumama for protection of ‘Balumama Devasthan’

Devotees of Balumama joining the march with bells and drums

Devotees and devout Hindus submitting a memorandum to Deputy District Collector Sanjay Teli

Mr Sunil Ghanwat addressing the participants after the march taken out by the devotees of Balumama for protection of Balumama Devasthan

Kolhapur, Maharashtra – There has been an increase in the inconveniences faced by the devotees despite the appointment of an Administrator at Balumama Devasthan. No action has been taken against the trustees of Devasthan responsible for malpractices before the appointment of an Administrator; therefore, inquiry should be promptly conducted, through CID, of the malpractices at Saint Balumama Devasthan, and it should be handed over to devotees to manage rather than the Government taking it over. It was unanimously demanded through the march taken to the District Collector’s office in Kolhapur by the devotees of Balu Mama for the protection of Balumama Devasthan. The march was jointly taken out by ‘Balumama Halsiddhanath Sevekari Sanstha’, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh (MMM). More than 600 devotees joined the march, which was concluded by submitting a memorandum to Dy District Collector, Sanjay Teli. He promised to immediately forward the memorandum to the State Chief Minister.

Slogans raised during the protest march

• The Government will not be allowed to take over ‘Balumama Devasthan’;
• When there is a Waqf Board for managing mosques and a Diocesan Society for churches, why should the Government take over ‘Balumama Devasthan’;
• Balumama devotees should get basic amenities;
• There is no need for the Government or an Administrator to look after the Devasthan, but devotees want Balumama’s sincere followers, etc.

Views expressed by dignitaries

Mr Nikhil Mohite–Kurade, the President of Balumama Halsiddhanath Sevekari Sanstha said during the conclusion of the march that the devotees were facing the ill effects of the appointment of an Administrator for Balumama Devasthan. There is no parking place for devotees who come for ‘Darshan’ from other places. There are no washrooms, no proper arrangement for distribution of prasad, etc. There are no veterinary doctors to treat the sick goats of Balumama Devasthan. Mr Sambhajirao Bhokare, Dy District-Chief of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena said the ploy of appointing an Administrator for Devasthan and grabbing all the money offered by devotees would be foiled by devotees.

Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the Coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh said on the occasion that in 1966, Saint Balumama’s ‘Samadhi’ Mandir was built and in 2003, the first trustee board was set up. There are no records of ornaments donated by devotees or the lands owned by the Devasthan, but the trustee board was dissolved and then, the Administrator was appointed. Inquiry has to be, therefore, conducted on the corrupt practices followed by the trustees. Moreover, inquiry should also be conducted about their wealth. The sale of goats has been stopped in the last three months, resulting in a loss of crores of rupees to the Mandir. When will action be taken against the persons responsible for such things ? Hence, we are demanding the handing over of management of this Mandir to sincere devotees. Members of HJS viz. Mr Babasaheb Bhopaley, Gajanan Todkar, Kiran Kulkarni, Rambhau Methe and Sunil Sawant also expressed their views.

Participating dignitaries

Mr Nikhil Mohite – Kurade, the President of ‘Balumama Halsiddhanath Sevekari Sanstha’, Mr Mantesh Naik, its Vice President, Dayanand Konakeri, Sardar Khade, Siddharth Edake, Sanjay Shende, Sagar Patil, Devadas Shinde, Paresh Shah, the great-grandson of devotee Chandulal Shah who had served Saint Balumama in person; Mr Parag Fadanis and Akshay Otari of Bajarang Dal; Mr Sharad Mali of ‘Rashtrahit Pratishthan’, Mr Deepak Desai, District President and Gajanan Todakar, city-President of ‘Hindu Ekata Andolan’; Mr Anandrao Paval, Regional Vice President of ‘Janajagruti Samiti against Corruption’, Mr Raju Yadav, ‘Karaveer Taluka Chief’ of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Sambhajirao Bhokare, its Dy District Chief, Mr Pramod Sawant of ‘Ambabai Bhakta Samiti’; Ha. Bha.Pa. Vitthal Tatya Patil, Mr Sunil Samant, Founder of ‘Shivashahi Foundation’; Mr Suresh Yadav, District Executive of ‘Shiva Pratishthan Hindustan’; Mr Sandip Sasane, District President of ‘Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha’; Shivanand Swami of HJS. Besides, devout Hindus and devotees of Balumama from various villages such as Nagaon, Shiroli, Bhuye, Shiye, Nigave and Mudal were present on the occasion.

Highlights

• Devotees of Saint Balumama from Topa and Shiroli brought drums with the encouragement of Mr Bapu Gawade.
• Mr Sunil Samant, the Founder of ‘Shivashahi Foundation’ attended the programme in a similar attire, which was used to be worn by Saint Balumama.
• Devotees joined the march, playing bells and drums with yellow Bhandara.