Junagadh: The locals under the Mandal told district collector and due to Swaminarayan mandir’s encroachment on government land, a 100-year old Garbi event which is participated by over 120 girls will not be possible this year. They said, Swaminarayan mandir has encroached government land by putting steel sheets and stones. The Hindus can’t hold Janmasthami, Ganesh Utsav etc festivals due to this encroachment.

100 વર્ષ જૂની ગરબીના સ્થળે સ્વામિનારાયણ સંપ્રદાયે પતરાની આડશ મૂકી, સ્થાનિકોએ એવી માગ કરી કે…#Junagadh #Garba #Gujarat #ZEE24KalakOriginalVideo pic.twitter.com/HPLgIPadjN

— Zee 24 Kalak (@Zee24Kalak) October 12, 2023

Former councilor of Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC), Shivlal Dhavani also joined the locals in this cause and said Swaminarayan mandir has blocked the place for illegal construction which is a clear land grabbing.

Hemaben Shukla, a lawyer said that the Municipal Corporation has said that the land in question is government land. A civil case is ongoing in this regard while a criminal complaint under Land grabbing act has also been filed against Radharamandev Trust of Swaminarayan mandir. Complain in this regard are also sent to the State government and the Chief Secretary of the State. DeshGujarat