Saibaba birthplace row: Vikhe Patil warns of `legal fight'

row over Maharashtra government's decision to develop Pathri as a pilgrim centre flared up on Friday, with BJP MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil asking why claims that it was Saibaba's birthplace surfaced only after new government took over.

He also said people of Shirdi, which houses a famous Saibaba temple, might launch a "legal fight" over issue. Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, on or hand, said creation of facilities for devotees at Pathri should t be opposed over controversy over birthplace.

Shirdi in Ahmednagar district where Saibaba, a 19th century spiritual leer, lived, attracts lakhs of devotees every year. controversy began after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's anuncement of a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of Pathri in Parbhani district, believed to be Saibaba's birthplace by a section of devotees.

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NCP leer Durrani Abdullah Khan claimed on Thursday that re was eugh evidence to prove that Saibaba was born at Pathri. "While Shirdi is Saibaba's 'karmabhoomi' (place of work) Pathri is 'janmabhoomi' (birthplace) and both places have ir own importance," he said. Tourists from across country and world visit Pathri but it lacks good infrastructure, he said. "People of Shirdi don't have issue with funds, y just don't want Pathri to be called Saibaba's birthplace," he claimed.

Shirdi residents fear that if Pathri became famous, flow of devotees to ir town will dwindle, he alleged. On Friday, BJP MP from Ahmednagar, Sujay Vikhe-Patil wondered why issue of Saibaba's birthplace came to fore suddenly after Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government replaced BJP-led regime in state.

"re was dispute over Saibaba's birthplace. How it became an issue and new evidence (about Pathri being birthplace) came up after government changed? political leer can determine what was Saibaba's birthplace," he said. "If this political interference continued, people of Shirdi will fight a legal battle," he told PTI. Even residents of Pathri h never raised this issue in past, he claimed, ding that Saibaba never spoke about his birthplace.

"We think `karmabhoomi' is more important than janmabhoomi," he ded. State PWD minister and Congress leer Ashok Chavan defended government's decision to provides funds for Pathri.

Chief minister Thackeray took a positive decision to develop Sai Janmasthan temple in Pathri to provide facilities to devotees who visit place, he said. "It will be improper to deprive m of facilities due to controversy over birthplace," he tweeted.

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