En Masse Sacking Of Muslim Staffers At Shani Shingnapur Temple

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 17 June 2025 The trust managing the Shani Shingnapur shrine in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar (erstwhile Ahmednagar) has recently laid off 167 staffers on "disciplinary grounds". Of them, 114 (68%) are Muslims, a temple source said. The trust, Shri ShaneshwarDevasthan, has attributed the sackings to "non-performance and long absenteeism" but not cited any specific reasons. The staffers, working for 2-10 years, were sacked in two rounds on June 8 and June 13. An outfit named Sakal Hindu Samaj had threatened a protest on June 14 demanding removal of non-Hindus working in the shrine at Shani Shingnapur. This followed a viral video in May showing a man, purportedly not a Hindu, carrying out painting work at the shrine. Devasthan CEO GorakshanathDarandale justified the removals and denied bias. After 'No Non-Hindus' Call, Shani Temple in Maharashtra Fires 114 Muslim Staff ------ There's no prize for guessing that the Muslim staffers have been sacked en masse because of their faith. All these Muslim staffers worked there right from the beginning and no one had ever objected. Most of them were diligent as well. But now the scenario is different. Moreover, many honest Muslim staffers objected to the discrepancies and large scale embezzlement that was going on at the temple. The myth that no houses are ever locked at Shani Shingnapur was detonated by the late rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar and his two Muslim associates. Like any other 'holy' place in India, Shani Shingnapur temple is also awfully commercial. Nearby Shirdi temple of Sai Baba is equally commercial and corrupt. Earlier, many Muslims worked at these temples. They've been ousted by the Hindu management. It's worthwhile to mention that the Temple of Shirdi Sai Baba and Shani Temple at Shingnapur, around 40 km from Ahmednagar, emerged as pilgrimage centres only when Manoj Kumar made a hugely successful film on Sai Baba of Shirdi in 1980. That catapulted Shirdi to the firmament of India's 'top-notch' holy place. Until 1980, no one cared for Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur. Both were obscure villages. Shani Shingnapur, which is not very far from Shirdi, also basked in the reflected glory, piety, name and fame of Shirdi's dubious Sai Baba. Many Muslims had been working there right from the emergence of these two places as Pavitra Sthan (pious places). All of a sudden, those Muslims are being accused of dereliction of duty. This is a sinister move. At the moment, Muslims in Maharashtra are at the receiving end. Even Muslim flower sellers outside the temples are either being ignored by the Hindu devotees or they (Muslim sellers) are being asked to shift from the temple vicinity. This rabid and palpable hatred is increasing by the day and the useless Maharashtra government chooses to look askance. The militant Hindu outfits and their goons are threatening Muslims. Poor Muslims are having to bear the brunt. This deplorable scenario is bound to deteriorate further. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/en-masse-sacking-muslim-shani-shingnapur/d/135889 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism