Sadhvi Gyaneshwari Puri seeks removal of Mahakal temple administrator, sets seven-day deadline

Sadhvi Gyaneshwari Puri, a mahant of the Niranjani Akhara, has demanded the removal of the Mahakal temple administrator in Ujjain after Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Ravindra Puri Maharaj was allegedly treated with discourtesy during darshan at the temple. She submitted an application on the matter at the public hearing held at the Collector's office on Tuesday.

The sadhvi said the misbehaviour with the president of the 13 akharas had tarnished the image of the entire temple. She demanded that temple administrator Pratham Kaushik be removed from his post immediately, and warned that if no action was taken within seven days, she would go on a fast unto death.

Gyaneshwari Puri alleged that despite the incident, the temple committee had so far taken no action against anyone. According to her, the temple administrator instead defended the staff and said it was no fault of theirs. The sadhvi concluded from this that the whole incident had taken place on administrator Pratham Kaushik's orders.

She said this was not the first time such a thing had happened to saints, and that saints had been insulted several times before during darshan at the temple. She said the temple's arrangements are very important in view of the coming Kumbh Mela, and Prath, Kaushik should therefore be removed as administrator at once.

According to the sadhvi, administrator Prathan Kaushik's conduct towards Ravindra Puri Maharaj at the Mahakal temple on Thursday was improper. She asked that if saints are treated like this, how must ordinary devotees be treated. She said complaints of mistreatment of saints keep surfacing every other day.

Gyaneshwari Puri also said Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav is like a brother in the faith to her, since they share a guru. But, she said, the incidents under the temple administrator's tenure are affecting the Chief Minister's image as well.

In the application, the sadhvi also demanded that IAS officer Prathum Kaushik be dismissed in addition to being removed as temple administrator. She suggested that a suitable, senior IAS officer be made temple administrator in coordination with the Akhara Parishad. In the application too, she reiterated that she would begin a fast unto death if the complaint was not acted on within seven days.