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Ticket-seekers flock to Shani temple

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI OCT. 25 . The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders might be arch-rivals in the political arena, but when it comes to seeking the blessings of saints and spiritual leaders, they do not hesitate to come on a single platform. This was evident today at the "Shani temple'' located on the fringes of the Asola wildlife sanctuary in South Delhi where senior Congress and the BJP leaders came together to seek the blessings of Saturn for the coming Assembly elections.

The occasion was significant as today was the first time in decades that Diwali was being celebrated on a Saturday. Besides politicians and ticket-seekers, a large number of Saturn devotees had turned up at the temple from the wee hours.

The arch-rivals from the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency, the Union Labour Minister, Sahib Singh Verma, and the former Member of Parliament and senior Congress leader, Sajjan Kumar, visited the temple to seek the blessings of Saturn and Madan Lal Rajasthani, the man behind the construction of the temple.

Both reached the venue around the same time, but they went round the temple and met Mr. Rajasthani separately. Prominent among others who visited the temple were the Leader of the House in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and its Standing Committee chairman, Ram Babu Sharma, the MCD Appointments Committee chairman, Braj Mohan Sharma, the former Delhi Social Welfare Minister, S.P. Ratawal, and the local MLA, Braham Singh Tanwar. Temple officials said since the announcement of the Assembly elections, the temple had been receiving a large number of ticket-seekers and sitting MLAs and influential leaders of both parties.

"This is because the beneficial influence of planet Saturn is very important for anyone to become an MLA or occupy an important post in the Government,'' said Mr. Rajasthani. However, he was quick to add that Saturn is the planet of "justice'' and gives results based on each individual's "karma''.

"The bottomline, therefore, seems to be the good work done by political leaders in their constituencies and the image they enjoy with the party and the masses, a factor which even Saturn cannot oppose,'' he said.

Known for his interest in occult science, the Union Minister of State, Sanjay Paswan, also visited the place and inaugurated a museum inside the temple premises today.

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