Mumbai: The local people of Shirdi called for a bandh on Sunday following a controversy over the birth place of Sai Baba. But the Shrine would remain open despite the Shirdi’s bandh, said the temple trustee.

The controversy erupted after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs. 100 crore for development of facilities at the Sai Janmasthan at Pathri in Parbhani district, while Pathri is considered to be Sai Baba’s birthplace by some devotees. But the residence of Shirdi claimed that the exact birthplace of the Shirdi Sai is not known.  The BJP MLA of Shirdi Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil supported the Shirdi bandh called for by the residence. He also urged the Chief Minister to withdraw his statement that Pathri is Sai Baba’s birthplace. Pathri only has one of the several Sai temples in the country.

He also said that all Sai devotees are feeling hurt. The people of Shirdi may resort to legal action, he said. The Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan urged locals that the creation of facilities for devotees at Pathri should not be opposed owing to the controversy over the birthplace. The Sai Baba temple in Shirdi draws lakhs of devotees from across India every year.