MP: Muslim workers to be removed from Maihar Mata temple; administration calls for total ban on liquor & meat in town

The Spiritual Department of Madhya Pradesh issued a notice stating the removal of Muslim workers from the very famous Maihar Mata temple located in the Satna District. Apart from the temple premises Islamic vendors having meat shops around the city will also be removed with immediate effect.

This letter has been written by Pushpa Kulesh, Deputy Secretary, Spiritual Department of Madhya Pradesh, to the District Magistrate. In this, the instruction of Minister Usha Thakur has been cited. After taking action on the letter, the District Magistrate has also been asked to send the report in three days.

In this letter dated April 5, 2023, along with the removal of meat and liquor shops from the city, the management committee has been asked to order the removal of Muslim employees from the temple. The District Magistrate has confirmed the receipt of the letter and said that further action will be taken after the investigation.

As per the sources, there are 3 Muslim employees in the temple. These employees are regular and have been working since 1988. The name of the employee is Abid Hussain and he is in the role of Legal Advisor at the temple committee. The other employee is Ayub Khan, who has been given the responsibility of handling the water system. And, the name of the third employee is Yusuf Khan.

It has been said by the temple authorities that the committee’s legal advisor Abid Hussain’s loyalty towards the trust is questionable, as the temple has not won a single legal case since he was brought on board.

Maihar’s SDM and Maa Sharda Management Committee’s administrator Dharmendra Mishra told that the government’s letter has been received. In this regard, a meeting of the temple management committee will now be called. After this, the Muslim employees will be removed.

It is pertinent to mention that, on January 17, 2023, a memorandum was handed over to Minister Usha Thakur on behalf of the Hindu organization of Satna district in this regard. The activists demanded the expulsion of Muslim employees from the Maa Sharda Management Committee as well as the closure of meat and liquor shops in the city.

Considering the impact of the ruling, a dispute is brewing because there is no provision in the rules of the Maa Sharda Devi Temple Management Committee to make religion the basis for the appointment of employees.

The employees which been named for expulsion have been working with the trust since 1988 and their sudden removal may rise tensions in the town.