Shirdi to be Closed Indefinitely From 19 January, ‘ Birthplace ‘ Remark of Maharashtra CM
The temple town of Shirdi in Maharashtra, known for the saint Sai Baba of the 19th century, will be’ closed indefinitely’ from 19 January as a mark of protest against the recent comment by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray describing Pathri in the district of Parbhani as the birthplace of the venerated saint and allocating Rs 100 crore for its development. The Sai Baba Samadhi administrative body took the decision to call for an indefinite shutdown. Speaking to the news agency, member of the Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, said, “We have announced the closure of Shirdi on 19 January against rumors. Tomorrow evening a meeting of villagers will be held to discuss the matter. Devotees won’t face any difficulties if they come to Shirdi. “Local residents are reported’ extremely upset’ at the portrayal of Pathri as the birthplace of Sai Baba by the chief minister. Locals claim that there is no record available on the birthplace of Sai Baba and suggest that during his stay in Shirdi, Sai Baba himself never shared any details on his birthplace or religion. While the town is conducting an indefinite shutdown, the temple itself and all its units were held outside the bandh’s purview. Similarly, Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will run on roads and hotels will operate as normal. However, public transportation is likely to be affected and could present obstacles to tourists visiting the temple city by air or rail.
