‘Unfortunate’: Eknath Shinde Reacts After 'Purification' Of Temple Following Abdul Sattar’s Visit

1 hour ago 16

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 16:29 IST

Soon after Sattar's visit, the group reportedly carried out what they described as a “cleansing" ritual by sprinkling cow urine inside the temple premises.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Youth sprinkling cow urine.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday reacted to the controversy involving Maharashtra minister Abdul Sattar that erupted at the Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, where a group of youths allegedly sprinkled cow urine inside the temple, claiming the premises had become “impure" after the latter’s visit.

The incident took place in Rahimabad shortly after Sattar offered prayers at the temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri earlier in the day. The act reportedly led to arguments between locals and the youths involved, with videos of the incident later surfacing on social media.

Responding to the row, Shinde termed the episode “unfortunate" and sought to strike a balance between condemning the act and asserting his party’s ideological stand.

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“Whatever happened is unfortunate. Abdul Sattar is our MLA and has been a minister with us. Sabir Shaikh was also a minister. But for us, the principle is simple — whoever is a rashtrabhakt (patriot) is ours, and whoever speaks against the nation is our enemy," Shinde said.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also responded to the incident. Defending, Abdul Sattar, Nirupam said that Lord Shiva belongs to everyone and cannot be made “impure" by any individual’s presence.

“Shiva belongs to everyone. Shiva is all-pervading. Shiva alone is the truth. If MLA Abdul Sattar went to a Shiva temple to have darshan on Mahashivratri, then neither did Shiva become impure, nor the Shiva temple. Sattar became pure. Opposition is futile," the Shiv Sena leader wrote on X.

शिव सबके हैं।शिव सर्वव्यापी हैं।शिव ही सत्य हैं।अगर विधायक अब्दुल सत्तार महाशिवरात्रि पर शिव का दर्शन करने एक शिव मंदिर में चले गए तो ना शिव अपवित्र हुए,ना शिव मंदिर।पवित्र सत्तार हो गए।विरोध व्यर्थ है।#AbdulSattar— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) February 16, 2026

After Sattar offered prayers at the temple, some youths reportedly objected to his presence, arguing that he should not have entered the shrine on the auspicious occasion. They claimed that Sattar consumes non-vegetarian food in the morning and therefore should not have been allowed to perform darshan.

Soon after his visit, the group reportedly carried out what they described as a “cleansing" ritual by sprinkling cow urine inside the temple premises.

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Maharashtra, India, India

First Published:

February 16, 2026, 16:27 IST

News india ‘Unfortunate’: Eknath Shinde Reacts After 'Purification' Of Temple Following Abdul Sattar’s Visit

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