Religion teaches to accept the truth and be disciplined: CM

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Namchi: One more religious cum pilgrimage centre was dedicated to the people of Sikkim Wednesday by the Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling. Beautifully constructed two storied Sikkim’s first Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir and Pilgrimage Centre was inaugurated on the day by the Chief Minister at Assangthang, Namchi, South Sikkim. The Mandir construction is organized by the Sri Sridhi Sai Baba Sewa Trust.

The inaugural programme included ceremonious puja and cultural presentations. On the occasion Chief Minister was felicitated by the organizing committee and also by the people of Assangthang ‘or his selfless dedication in the creation of better Sikkim of tomorrow’.

Chief Minister attended the inaugural ceremony which lasted till late afternoon. The priest of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir performed the puja and the statue of baba was unveiled. Chief Minister along with his wife Tika Maya Chamling, cabinet ministers, chairpersons and government officials attended the ceremony. Chief Minister took active part in the puja.

Later addressing the gathering, Chief Minister said that some section of the society criticized the construction of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir at Assangthang and Chaar Dhaam at Solophok. He said that the opposition parties have filed a case at Supreme Court on construction of Chaar Dhaam at Solophok. However, he noted, the Apex Court decision was in favour of SDF government. Since then, he mentioned, “they (opposition) are now asking for CBI intervention in it”. He further said “the people of Sikkim should know the mentality of such people and should support the government and its developmental projects”.

After its inauguration, he declared, “it (mandir) has become people’s property”. It is a pilgrimage centre for the devotees of Sri Shridi Sai Baba while for others it has become another tourist destination in South Sikkim, he added. This will now attract a large number of tourists to Assangthang which will be ultimately beneficial for the local people of Assangthang and Namchi, he noted.

Chief Minister once again urged the youth and the local people to take tourism as their profession. He said the upcoming tourist destination has increased the importance of Assangthang and its surroundings. “Religion should be for the benefit and the well being of the people”, he observed, “but the narrow mentalities of section of believers were defaming religion in our country today”. He further said, “Religion means to accept the truth and to be disciplined; India is a secular country and Sikkim has proved it in the entire country where every religion has been treated equally and has been provided equal security”.

Chief Minister mentioned a number of similar developments underway in Sikkim like Sidhi Vinayak Mandir in Sikkim, Srijunga Study center in West Sikkim, Thakurbari in Gangtok, Shakti Sthal in Melli, Buddha Park in Ravangla and others. Every individual involved in the construction of this Sri Shridi Sai Baba Mandir at Assangthang was felicitated appreciating their respective works.

[FROM SIKKIM REPORTER