Team Herald
PONDA: The Navdurga Prathishtan which is opposing the Marcaim Navdurga temple committee’s decision to replace the temple’s ancient idol, Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Ponda mamlatdar, who is the administrator of temples, to conduct an inquiry into the publication of a notice in local dailies announcing suspension of all religious activities in the temple, citing law and order problem.
The Navdurga temple committee in a notice published in local dailies on March 28 stated that “On account of unauthorised activities and law and order problem in the precinct of the Temple of Navdurga, the managing committee of the temple is constrained to suspend all festivities, personal seva and offering at the Temple of Shri Navdurga with immediate effect until further notice.”
In their memorandum, Hemant Kale and Ashwinkumar Naik stated that they suspected a conspiracy behind the publication of the notice as “there is no law and order situation in Marcaim.” However, the publication of notice announcing suspension of religious activities could lead to law and order problem in the village, they warned. Kale and Naik are members of Navdurga Prathishtan.
They said that even though the villagers were opposing the replacement of the idol, no person caused any disturbance in the village, therefore, they said, they were surprised to read the notice claiming law and order situation in precinct of the temple.
The memorandum asserted that merely by publishing suspension of religious activities at the temple, the committee cannot stop religious rituals being performed there and that the villagers would continue performing religious activities at the temple.
“The temple committee can only manage the affairs of the temple; it cannot stop religious activities without taking the villagers into confidence. Therefore, urgent action is needed,” the memorandum reads.
Meanwhile, Marcaim villagers has sought to know whether the temple committee has obtained permission from the mamlatdar to stop religious rituals which, they fear, is likely to create law and order situation in Marcaim.
After receiving their memorandum, Mamlatdar Abeer Hede assured to conduct inquiry into matter, said Hemant Kale and Ashwinkumar Naik.
