I got shocked after hearing the State Government's decision on the Rath row. The decision of the law Minister in this regard was completely wrong,” said Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb while addressing the mediapersons here on Friday.
The Gajapati urged the Government to implement the Odisha High Court's order in letter and spirit by accepting the Shankaracharya's view to prohibit devotees from ascending the chariots and touching the deities during the Rath Yatra. “Disregard or disrespect shown to the Sanatan Dharma's sacred institution of Shankaracharya will hurt the religious sentiments of countless Hindus around the world,” he stated.
He said non-compliance of the Shankaracharya's decision by the Government would not only violate Section 15(1) of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1955 but also infringe the Constitutional guarantees of 'freedom of religion' enshrined in Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
The Gajapati stated that the Shankaracharya of Goverdhan-peeth is the highest authority for deciding religious matters relating to the Shreemandira and, having regard to decisions of the Supreme Court, neither the
Government nor any other body has any jurisdiction to review, modify or in any manner interfere with the religious decision of the seer which must be implemented forthwith.
He also said the Government has created the Rath controversy by sidelining the Shankaracharya's view. “If the State had accepted the seer's suggestion, such a situation would not have emerged,” he said, adding, “The Government should stop interfering in religious matters.”
The Gajapati appealed to all devotees as well as to all Sevaks (servitors) of the Shreemandira, particularly Daitapati Sevaks, to abide by the decision of the Shankaracharya so that the Rath Yatra is performed peacefully and smoothly and in true devotional spirit.