Mumbai: Even a century after Sai Baba, having passed away, heated arguments have begun over his birthplace between Shirdi and Pathri towns. But more than the Rs 100 crore sanctioned for the development of Pathri, it has given birth to yet another controversy. The decision of the government has raised many eyebrows, as an ambitious development plan for Sindkhed Raja in Buldhana district, birth place of Rajmata Jijabai, has almost been shelved due to fund crunch!
The row over the Shirdi Sai Baba’s birth place was triggered after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced allocation of Rs 100 Cr for development of Pathri village, around 260 km away from Shirdi, claiming it to be the birth place of Sai Baba. The decision is fallout of a proposal by Pathri Temple Trust submitted to the government two years back. The Temple Trust had claimed that Pathri was the birth place of Sai Baba, considered to be the Saint of Shirdi. However, the proposal never saw the light of the day, until CM Thackeray revived it.
The decision of the state government to sanction Rs 100 Cr for development of Pathri as birth place of the Siant has irked the residents of Shirdi, who observed a bandh on Sunday. Though the Bandh was called off after a meeting with CM Thackeray on Monday, the issue is far from dyeing down any sooner. The row has now entered into frantic search of evidences to prove each other’s point.
While the new controversy has begun in the state, Shiv Sena, whose very existence is on the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has completely forgotten Sindkhed Raja, the town in Buldhana district, the birth place of Rajmata Jijabai. The erstwhile BJP led government had sanctioned Rs 112 Cr for development of Sindkhed Raja town. Out of these, Rs 25 Cr were earmarked for core conservation work of the historical monuments in the town.
The plan included rejuvenation of 10 historical structures in Sindkhed Raja town, such as Putala Barav, Moti Talao, Sajna Barav, Chandani Talao, Nilkantheshwar Temple among others. The state government had approved the development plan during a meeting held on October 20, 2016. However, the funds approved for the project are yet to be released. On top of it, the government has slashed the funds drastically. During a meeting via video conferencing, on January 18, it was decided that Rs 8 Cr would be released for the project over next two years.
“It is irony that the government is delaying already sanctioned projects of such historical importance involving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj claiming shortage of funds. Now it has announced Rs 100 Cr for Pathri village. Where would this fund come from, remains the major question,” said a senior government official privy to the development, requesting anonymity.
