Times News Network
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA, August 12, 2003: The state government has decided to issue an ordinance to dissolve the existing board of trustees of Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi. The trust has funds worth around US$32 million. Minister for law and judiciary Govindrao Adik, a Congress legislator from Ahmednagar district, sought to introduce a bill in the last session of the legislature to take over the temple trust. He was opposed by NCP legislators. The display of differences between the Congress and the NCP caused considerable embarrassment to the government and Mr. Adik withdrew the bill. According to sources, the Congress and the NCP have now worked out a consensus. The ordinance will only replace the existing trustees with new ones. The temple administration will not be taken over by the government. Steps will be taken to ensure greater transparency in the temple administration. The Chairperson of the trust will be the son of a senior NCP leader. The present trustees had opposed the government move on the grounds that the government’s track record of managing other prominent temples in the state has not inspired confidence.