PANAJI
Panic spread among devotees at Mangor over the Navy allegedly closing access gates to the Ayyappa Temple. Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar intervened and diffused the situation after meeting Naval officials and the temple committee.
Addressing the media on Friday, Salkar said the Navy had stopped some devotees from entering the temple and informed them that the gates would be closed. “The Navy blocked access to the Ayyappa Temple in the name of maintaining safety and hurting the sentiments of the devotees. The temple was established 60-70 years ago, even before the Navy came here. There have been constant issues created by the Navy which have been resolved in the past,” Salkar said.
Salkar, along with the Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar and SP Gurudas Kadam, met Naval officials to resolve the issue. The Navy reportedly agreed in principle to keep the gates open to ensure uninterrupted access to the temple.
Salkar said a meeting with senior Naval officials would be held to discuss a permanent solution, including a possible land exchange arrangement.
Devotees said they would not allow access to the temple to be blocked. They recalled an earlier incident in which two truckloads of mud were allegedly dumped to block the same pathway. They said the MLA had intervened and ensured its removal.
They further claimed that an attempt was now being made to close both access routes to the temple through a contractor. Devotees said the issue resurfaced every three years with changes in Naval officers and demanded a permanent solution in writing.
