A group of youth claims that since Sattar consumes non-vegetarian food, he should not have been allowed to perform darshan at the temple
NEW DELHI – Peeved at the visit by former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar to the Nageshwar Mahadev Temple in Rahimabad of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a group of youths allegedly sprinkled cow urine in the Hindu place of worship, claiming the premises had become impure.
Abdul Sattar had offered prayers earlier in the day. According to local reports, some youths objected to his presence and allegedly claimed that he should not have entered the temple on the auspicious occasion of the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri, media reports reaching here said on Monday. They further alleged that since Sattar consumes non-vegetarian food, he should not have been allowed to perform darshan.
Soon after the minister’s visit, the group allegedly carried out the cleansing ritual by sprinkling cow urine inside the temple premises.
The controversy intensified after remarks by Tushar Bhosale, head of the spiritual wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Speaking to reporters in Wardha, Bhosale targeted Sattar and questioned his entry into the sanctum.
“Is Abdul Sattar a Hindu. Has he accepted Hinduism? If not, he should have taken darshan from outside the sanctum. Our temples are not monuments. There are religious rules for the sanctum. Do not break our religious traditions for political benefit,” Bhosale was quoted as saying.
He further added, “If he has such a strong desire, he should accept Hinduism and then freely seek the blessings of our deities.”
