Shani Devsthan Trust Suspends 167 Employees; Hindu Groups Had Demanded Removal of Non-Hindu Staff
Ahilyanagar : In a significant move, the Shani Devsthan Trust of Shani Shingnapur on Friday suspended 167 employees at once. This action came a day ahead of the planned Dharma Raksha Morcha (Religious Protection March) scheduled by the Sakal Hindu Samaj on Saturday (June 14), sparking widespread discussion in the area.
The march was organized to demand the removal of 114 non-Hindu employees from the temple trust. However, the trust’s sudden suspension of those employees has created confusion about the purpose of the upcoming protest.
Around two weeks ago, during the beautification work of the Shani Chouthara, the presence of non-Hindu workers led BJP leader Rishikesh Shete and others to perform a ritual purification of the structure and the idol. This incident prompted calls for the removal of non-Hindu staff from the temple premises.
In a trust meeting held on Sunday (June 8), 99 employees were suspended for regular absenteeism. In today’s follow-up meeting, an additional 68 employees were suspended for negligence and misconduct, confirmed CEO G.K. Darandale.
❝ We have not yet received any official letter confirming the suspension of the 114 employees we named. If we receive it, the protest will become a victory march; otherwise, we will proceed with the agitation. ❞
- Rishikesh Shete, Protest Organizer, Sonai
❝ The trust has the authority to take disciplinary action against absent or misbehaving employees. Since it’s a Saturday, and to avoid inconvenience to devotees, the Sakal Hindu Samaj should call off the protest. ❞
- Appasaheb Shete, Trustee, Shani Devsthan Trust
