MARGAO
President of the Maruti Mandir Trust, Davorlim, Bhai Naik has knocked on the doors of Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai for justice in connection with the installation of a Sambhaji statue near the temple.
Bhai later told the media that he had moved from pillar to post against the Sambhaji statue since the statue comes in the way of the weekly palki ritual held traditionally at the temple. "The Maruti temple is 40 years old now. Every Saturday, we take out the palki before culminating back into the temple. But, in February last, a statue of Sambhaji came up near the temple. The statue was garlanded by an MLA. When we went to the Panchayat office seeking justice, the Panchayat sought documents from the temple. But I want to ask the Panchayat whether the statue installed at the site is legal,” he said.
Saying that he and the trust were not against Shivaji or Sambhaji, Bhai said the Hindu Mathagramastha Sabha, which he heads, was the first to take up a Shivaji rally in the city.
Exuding confidence that MLA Vijai Sardesai will take up the issue with the government, Bhai further said that if Sardesai has an interest in Margao, he should come to Margao and contest the next elections.
