Sadhus withdraw stir against MP bill on CM's 'assurance'

Seers and temple priests today withdrew their protest against a proposed bill by the state government, which they claim seeks to take control of land of temples and hand over their management to district collectors, on an assurance given by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The agitators claimed the proposed legislation was aimed at handing over the management of temples to district collectors.
"Chief Minister had sent his officials to meet us. Chouhan also talked to us over phone and assured that state government would sympathetically consider our demands and any decision would be taken only after mutual agreement. So, we decided to withdraw our agitation," said Computer Baba, one of the religious leaders.

He said Chouhan would meet the representatives of 'Sadhu Samaj' tomorrow to discuss their demands.
"We will discuss the issue of the proposed bill besides other demands during our meeting with the CM," he said.
The sadhus and temple priests from various parts of the state were protesting outside a temple at Kamla Park here and even started a 'havan' (fire ritual) on road.
They had earlier threatened to leave for Uttar Pradesh to campaign against the BJP in the ongoing phases of Assembly elections.