Shirdi to remain closed from Sunday after Uddhav terms Pathri as Sai Baba's home

In response to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace, Saibaba Sansthan Trust has given an indefinite Bandh call in Shirdi, which serves as a major pilgrimage site as it is believed to be the home of revered spiritual leader Sai Baba.

Shirdi (Maharashtra): A call has been given for indefinite closure of Shirdi after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace.

"We have declared an indefinite bandh in Shirdi from Sunday in response to the controversy related to the birthplace of Sai Baba," said a member of Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

"A meeting of villagers will be convened on Saturday evening to discuss the issue. Devotees will not face any difficulty if they come to Shirdi," he added.

Shirdi (Maharashtra): A call has been given for indefinite closure of Shirdi after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment terming Pathri in Parbhani district as Sai Baba's birthplace.

"We have declared an indefinite bandh in Shirdi from Sunday in response to the controversy related to the birthplace of Sai Baba," said a member of Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

"A meeting of villagers will be convened on Saturday evening to discuss the issue. Devotees will not face any difficulty if they come to Shirdi," he added.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil wondered why the issue of Saibaba's birthplace came to the fore suddenly after the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government replaced the BJP-led regime in the state.

"There was no dispute over Saibaba's birthplace. How it became an issue and new evidence (about Pathri being the birthplace) came up after the government changed? No political leader can determine what was Saibaba's birthplace," he said.

"If this political interference continued, the people of Shirdi will fight a legal battle," Patil warned.

Even the residents of Pathri had never raised this issue in the past, he claimed, adding that Saibaba never spoke about his birthplace.

"We think `karmabhoomi' is more important than janmabhoomi," he added.

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, on the other hand, said the creation of facilities for devotees at Pathri should not be opposed over the controversy.

Shirdi in Ahmednagar district, where Saibaba - a 19th century spiritual leader - lived, attracts lakhs of devotees every year.

The controversy began after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's announcement of a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of Pathri in Parbhani district as Sai Baba's pilgrimage site, believed to be the spiritual leader's birthplace by a section of devotees.

NCP leader Durrani Abdullah Khan claimed on Thursday that there was enough evidence to prove that Saibaba was born at Pathri.

"While Shirdi is Saibaba's 'karmabhoomi' (place of work) Pathri is 'janmabhoomi' (birthplace) and both places have their own importance," he said.

Tourists from across the country and world visit Pathri but it lacks good infrastructure, he said.

"People of Shirdi don't have an issue with the funds, they just don't want Pathri to be called Saibaba's birthplace," he claimed.

Shirdi residents fear that if Pathri became famous, the flow of devotees to their town will dwindle, he alleged.