PANJIM: Shree Manguesh Devasthan of Priol, in a letter written to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar clarified the temple committee does not allow visitors with personal wheelchairs, but provides a wheelchair to those who need it.
“Negative publicity is being initiated presently on Shree Mangesh Devasthan Priol by a certain group of people through social media. The issue has been created out of no issues just to tarnish the image of our reputed Devasthan,” states the letter written by the Devasthan president C V Dhume.
“Though practically a month has lapsed after the incident, the temple managing committee has not received any oral or written complaint with details of the incident,” Dhume wrote.
He said that the temple management committee does not allow visitors with their personal wheel chairs in order to maintain purity, cleanliness and sanctity of the temple just like foot wear is not allowed within the temple. Visitor’s wheelchairs pass through different public places and hence they are not allowed for obvious reasons, he said, however, the temple management has made available its own chair for this purpose since 2004, free of charge.
He said “As confirmed by a lady personnel before TV news channel reporter, the complainant was asked to opt for the arrangement made available by the temple which the complainant declined. The complainant wanted to take her own wheelchair which was not allowed. The in house wheelchair facility is available in the temple premises for a number of years.”
The temple committee said that the TV reporter had also photographed the wheelchair that was available in the temple premises along with date of its availability.
