Shani Shingnapur Temple row: Now the ball is in Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' court

New Delhi: The ongoing row over the entry of women in the Shani Shingnapur Temple at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra is likely to come to an end after both the parties on Saturday agreed to accept the decision of Mahasrashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue. 

Following the meeting with Ahmednagar district administration, activist Trupti Desai , who has been spearheading the protest demanding entry of women inside the temple premises, expressed hope of a positive decision from the Mahasrashtra CM on the issue.

"Whatever CM of Maharashtra decides we will go with that, other parties in the issue also agreed to this. It was a positive interaction. Soon women will be allowed inside the temple is what we believe,"said Desai.

Earlier on Saturday, the district administration has called a meeting between the protesting women's rights activists from Bhumata Brigade and temple authorities to end the deadlock on the issue. 

On January 29, members of the Bhumata Brigade tried to forcefully enter the Shani Shingnapur Temple's sanctorum where the idol of Lord Shani is placed on an open-air platform.

However, the group led by Desai was stopped from marching towards the temple by police near Supa. They were also detained by police for some time, but released later. 

The temple drew attention in November 2015 after a woman had offered prayers at the popular shrine in "breach" of age-old practice that prohibits entry of women, after which the temple committee had to suspend seven security men and the villagers to perform purification rituals.

The temple attracts millions of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad.