A bandh call given by the traders in Vrindaban in protest against the reported move of the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire and develop century-old Bankey Bihari temple evoked a lukewarm response today.
The market of Vrindaban remained closed in the morning, when a few activists of some Hindu organisations tried to enforce the bandh. However, in the afternoon, the business continued as usual.
"No untoward incident was reported during the bandh and it was peaceful," Deputy SP R K Gautam said.
Meanwhile, Goverdhan Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Adhokshajanand today asked the government to "desist" from the move "as it would do no good to the existing situation of the temple".
"If government wants to provide facility to pilgrims, it should make efforts to increase the area of the temple, ensure open space around the temple, make approach roads better, nab cheats, ensure proper vehicular traffic with arrangement of car parking among others," Shankaracharya said.
Congress' Pradeep Mathur, who today met Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan andPricipal Secretary Dharmarth (religious affairs) Navneet Sehgal in this regard, said the matter has been kept in abeyance.
"Though no action has been taken, the matter is under goernment's consideration," Mathur said quoting Rajan and Dharmarth.
After hailing the development, Desai and her supporters
left Pune for Shingnapur to offer prayers at the Shani temple.
Local men had brought sacred water of Godavari and Mulay rivers from Pravara Sangam, about 40 kms from Shani Shingnapur and offered prayers.
It has been a tradition for male devotees to climb up the platform of the temple and offer the water after performing a pooja on Gudi Padwa every year.
The villagers said that it's a local custom and matter of faith as they forcefully reached to prohibited area of the temple.
Desai said, "If a single man enters the sanctum other than pujari, the court orders have to be followed, everyone has to follow the order. The day has come today (when) we will enter the 'shani' platform."
"This is our victory. It was our will power that we will enter the core area...You all must have been seen women activists were manhandled. Despite the odds women came forward with all preparations and might. This is victory of Bhumata Brigade, of our movement. It is also victory of gender equality."
"Our fight has been going on for the past three-four months. We faced a lot of hurdles. We have been maligned, we were detained despite the court orders," Desai said.
On media's role in her campaign, she said "media has been with us and they also took a stand with us. This is media's win as well.
