Former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil draws fire for ‘beggars come to Shirdi’ remark

At an event in Shirdi on Sunday, Vikhe-Patil urged the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust CEO Goraksh Gadilkar to stop the practice of giving free meals to devotees. ”The beggars come to Shirdi from across Maharashtra for food. Devotees coming to Shirdi can afford to pay Rs 10 for the meal…Therefore I am making a request to the trust. And this is request from the people of Shirdi. They are united in their demand. The money used for the meal should instead be used for education of children in Shridi.”

Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Council Varsha Gaikwad said, ”No one should use objectionable words like beggars. If any one is demanding nomination for Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, does that person then become a beggar? If anyone is asking for help from others, does he become a beggar? Those who do not understand the meaning of giving free meal and begging cannot be called cultured people…”