Ujjain : Representatives of Kinnar akhara met the Central Simhastha Fair Organising Committee (CSFOC), Chairman Makhan Singh here on Monday, to press their demand of getting fund of Rs 50 lakh on the pattern of other akharas.
Representatives including Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Santoshi, Priya, Gauri and others had reached the mela office demanding funds like other akharas. The 13 Shaiva and Vaishnav akharas have been given a minimum of Rs 50 lakhs for various construction works in the local akharas. Some of them have even reached amount in crores after the demands increased. Ujjain Municipal Corporation is executing various works in each of the 13 akharas. Tripathi, demanding funds from Makhan Singh, said Kinnars are part of the Sanatan Dharma for centuries. The attack of Mughals and British and their rulings had forced the transgender fraternity to vanish. Now the time has come for us to take back what they lost in past, she added. She said till now they have also not been given land allotment papers, over which Singh said you need to drop the akhara title and land allotment papers are ready. Singh swiftly avoided the funds issue saying this will only create more trouble for us. Simhastha fair is hovering above the head and 13 akharas are not going to take it good.
Makhan Singh repeated if the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad recognizes you, then things could change. Over which, Tripathi threatened to pull the Simhastha Fair Authority (SFA) in court over charges of stigma discrimination. Tripathi said, I will reach every authority and will write a letter to CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot. Later, the delegation also met Mela officer Avinash Lavania, demanding land allotment papers. Over which Lavania requested them to drop the ‘akhara’ title from their association, after which they soon will be given land papers. On being asked over funds issue, the officer reiterated the same answers given by Makhan Singh. He said ABAP is the agency that can help them. The delegation objected that they are here from the beginning, and need not any seal of ABAP. SFA is in troubles as the Kinnars are now demanding money and security, for which they are virtually unable to do. Second the 13 akharas have come up with new proposals of construction and development works.
