Priests Protest Auction Of Temple Land By Administration In MP's Dhar

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): A unique protest unfolded outside the collectorate on Tuesday where priests played dhol and manjeera after collector Priyank Mishra avoided meeting them on Monday.

Priests from across the district came to collector's office to submit a memorandum protesting the auction of their lands presented to their ancestors for religious purposes by erstwhile kings around two centuries ago.

When the collector did not arrive for a long time, they sang bhajans with bells and dholaks after making a makeshift temple.

The collector had gone to Badnawar for a public hearing. He returned at 1:00 pm but left after seeing the crowd gathered outside his office. The priests refused to give their memorandum to the SDM and ADM, demanding meeting the collector.

"If the collector does not come to meet us, we will protest by removing our clothes and will stay here," the priests warned.

During the protest, priests kept an idol of Lord Thakur ji and stood in the rain. "As long as we get wet in the water, God will punish those responsible," they said.

After two hours of protest, Collector Priyank Mishra finally met the priests. The priests also complained about the committee formed by the administration.

"Six people are government employees, and only one priest represents each village. That is not fair," they said and demanded that this committee be dissolved.

Priests claimed that a Supreme Court order said that priests’ houses were to be funded by temple land, and the collector assured that he would examine the order.

Ramanandi Seva state vice president Dr Rohit Bairagi said allegations that priests sell temple land are false, adding that nothing happens without the knowledge of the administration.