Mumbai, January 19: A bandh has been called on Sunday in Shirdi, a city in Maharashtra, against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment calling Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace. However, the famous Sri Baba temple will remain open for visitors. Deepak Madukar Muglikar, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, has said that Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi will remain open today and will not be impacted by the closure of the city. The temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over India every year.

Reports informed that the bandh in Shirdi will be applicable until further orders. In the wake of the bandh, Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi will remain open today and will not be impacted by the closure of the city. On Saturday, Muglikar had confirmed that some reports in media that Sai Temple in Shirdi will remain closed on January 19 was just a rumor. He said temple will remain open on January 19. Meanwhile, B Wakchaure, member of Saibaba Sansthan Trust was quoted in reports saying that devotees will not face any difficulty if they come to Shirdi.

Here's the tweet:

Sai Baba Temple Remains Open 

One of the most popular religious destinations in the country, Saibaba Temple in Shirdi witnesses lakh of devotees visiting the holy site every year. Thackeray has recently announced that Pathri will be developed as the birthplace of Sai Baba for religious tourism and also took a review meeting of the development plans in Parbhani district.

The controversy erupted after Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at “Sai janmasthan” (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district. Pathri is considered to be the birthplace of Saibaba by some devotees but majority of locals of Shirdi claimed that the exact birthplace of the famed saint was not known.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 19, 2020 08:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).