Temple row: Desai gets Sri Sri's invitation for discussion

Trupti Desai, spearheading the campaign seeking women's entry into the sanctum of Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, said she has been invited by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar tomorrow to discuss the issue.
On January 26, at least 400 women volunteers, mainly hailing from Pune and led by Desai, President of Bhumata Brigade, made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the 'chauthara' of the temple when police stopped the marchers at Supa village, 70 km from the temple.
Meanwhile, one of the former trustees of the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednmagar district also claimed that the temple trust has been invited at Balewadi in Pune to discuss the issue by the spiritual leader.

"We have received a formal invitation from Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji and we have been asked to come to the Balewadi venue at 1 PM tomorrow," Desai told PTI today.
The Art of Living session will be held tomorrow at Balewadi where Sri Sri will be present.
She claimed that she spoke to Sri Sri over phone this morning.

"Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji has extended support to our cause and we are happy that he has called us for discussion," she claimed.
Sayaram Bankar, a former trustee of the temple trust said that they have also been invited by Sri Sri tomorrow.

Meanwhile, as the campaign gained momentum, the shrine authorities and the activists held a round of talks mediated by the Ahmednagar district collector today, which both sides said concluded on a "positive note" and expected Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take the process forward.