Saibaba Birthplace Row: Indefinite Shirdi ‘Bandh’ Called Off For Tomorrow; Uddhav Calls Meeting

A protest was staged in the town after the chief minister terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace. While the rest of the town remained shut, the temple remained open for darshan today.

Image: ANI

Shirdi: The row over the birthplace of Saibaba appeared to ease out a bit on Sunday evening, as the indefinite 'bandh' in the Shirdi called in protest over chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported statement, has been called off for Monday. A protest was staged in the town after the chief minister terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace. While the rest of the town remained shut, the temple remained open for darshan today. "We have called off the indefinite bandh and Shirdi will be open as normal after 12 tonight. There is a meeting scheduled with Chief Minister tomorrow at 2 pm and we will request him to take back his statement about Saibaba's birthplace. We are not seeking an apology from the CM but all we want is that he should withdraw his statement," said Kailash Tope, Sai Baba Sansthan Trust. "If there is no positive outcome of tomorrow's meeting locals of Shirdi will decide the future course of action," he said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has decided to hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the indefinite shutdown in Shirdi town over his alleged comments on Sai Baba's birthplace. "Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the controversy which is going on regarding the birthplace of Shri Sai Baba," Chief Minister Office (CMO) tweeted on Saturday. The 'bandh' has been called by locals upset with Thackeray's decision to allocate funds to develop Pathri town in Parbhani district for religious tourism, calling it the birthplace of Baba, who is a 19th-century spiritual figure. One of the most popular religious destinations in the country, Saibaba Temple in Shirdi witnesses lakh of devotees visiting the holy site every year. The Chief Minister had also taken a review meeting of the development plans in Parbhani district.