Devotees seek strict action against the Vitthal Rukhmini temple trust executive officer

Mumbai: The executive officer of the Pandharpur Vitthal Rukmini, temple trust, Vitthal Joshi is in thick of a controversy after a video went viral in which Joshi seen taking bath within the temple premises itself. This act of him has hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees and they have demanded for First investigation Report (FIR) be registered against Joshi and that he also to step down from the post of the temple trust.

According to a devotee July 9 Joshi and his subordinate Balaji Pudalwad had entered the temple at the time of lockdown and they were aware that taking bath in the temple premises near the Lord’s idol is not at all permissible, even then he did this. Strict action has to be taken against both of them, the devotee added.

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A group of devotees along with   Sanjay Waiker, president for BJP in Pandharpur had filed a written complaint and demanded to register an FIR against Vitthal Joshi, the working President of the temple trust for hurting the sentiments of devotees by entering the temple during lockdown period, taking bath in the temple premises and disobeying the lockdown rules at the Pandharpur city police station.

Recently, a video was viral which shows that on July 9 temple co ordinator Balaji Pudalwad had put water on his body, which is against the rule of the committee. In the video it was seen that the priest had put the same water used by the pujari for bathing the Vitthal Rukhmini. Waiker in his letter has alleged that during the lockdown period, Joshi entered the temple and did this crime and had disobeyed the government’s rule of wearing face mask, maintain social distancing.  

When asked for his comment, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president, Madhav Bhandari remarked, “During lockdown as per the government’s guidelines entry to any temple or worship place was prohibited. When devotees were not allowed in the temple, at that time Joshi being working president of the temple trust went to the temple and did such heinous act of taking bath in the temple premises itself shows that how Joshi is taking advantage of his position. In the video it was clearly seen that he had put water on himself. Does he feel that he is superior to god? The worst part is he is not accepting his fault and just giving clarification.”

Devotees in the complaint letter have demanded that a case be registered against them for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant under section 188, giving provocation to cause riots’ section (153) of the India Penal Code (IPC). Efforts to contact Vitthal Joshi for his clarification proved futile as his mobile phone remained switched off when contacted. – By Vikas Nag