The appointment of BJP leader Pawan Tripathi to the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust has sparked controversy, with the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti objecting to the move and alleging that Marathi representation is being sidelined in key religious institutions in Maharashtra.
The row erupted after Tripathi was appointed as treasurer of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, one of the state’s most prominent and influential religious bodies. Members of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti criticised the decision, claiming that appointments to important cultural and religious institutions in Maharashtra should reflect local Marathi identity and representation.
The organisation has reportedly questioned the state government over the selection process and expressed concern over what it described as the growing marginalisation of Marathi-speaking individuals in administrative positions linked to major public institutions.
The Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, which administers the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, oversees significant financial and religious activities and holds considerable influence in the state. The latest appointments to the trust were made recently by the Maharashtra government.
Supporters of the appointment, however, have defended the decision, stating that administrative capability and public service should take precedence over regional considerations.
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