Statement false, say bhandara panels

PANCHKULA, April 4: The bhandara committees have described the Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board statement relating to closing of Bhandaras, as false and misleading. In a joint statement, the presidents of the three bhandara Committees said the three committees are registered and have been operating in the premises for more than 20 years. They said they have created fixed assets worth Rs 2.5 crores.

The committee presidents say the trouble began on March 16 when the Shrine Board put its bhandara collection counter near the bhandara premises in order to hinder the functioning of Bhandaras. A protest was lodged with the Shrine Board chief executive officer H. S. Pannu, on the same day. But, according to the bhandara Committees, no action was taken. The three bhandaras began functioning again on March 31, when a deputation of committees met Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma.

The bhandara presidents have blamed the Shrine Board authorities of conspiring to interfere in the functioning of Bhandaras and breaking open the locks of bhandara premises at about 1:30 p.m. on April 1, by using police force. They also allege that the Shrine Board authorities had forcibly taken possession of food articles and that nobody was allowed to come near the bhandara premises.