While the queue system was imposed on the devotees for the second consecutive day to enter the Jagannath Temple here amidst a protest from the servitors, Revenue Minister and Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty triggered a row by saying that the initiative in the temple is not acceptable to the local people.
He said necessary steps are needed by the administration for the locals that visit temple on daily basis. After a protest to the queue system from the servitors, the Minister’s statement is said to be a huge setback to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in its reform initiatives taken as per direction of the Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, since early morning, the devotees entered the Shreemandir through barricade from near the Lions Gate and had darshan of the deities. They didn’t face any major problem. But the servitors opposed the initiative saying that the one-way barricade created a difficulty.
Though the servitors are allowed in all the doors, but the problem is they can’t take Yatris (pilgrims) along with them except through the Lions Gate.
The servitors demanded that they be allowed to enter along with their pilgrims through any door. Since their profession has been hampered by the move of the SJTA, the servitors have been protesting the queue system since it was introduced on Monday.
But many pilgrims who made darshan moving in barricade supported the system and urged the administration to ensure amenities like cooling fans all along the barricades and roof cover, besides rest sheds and drinking water etc.
In another development opposing the queue system, the Jaganath Sena called for a 12-hour Puri Bandh on Wednesday. Sena convenor Priyadarshan Patnaik said that the shops and business establishments have been urged to down their shutters in protest against the queue and barricade system that has put the locals in trouble in their daily visit to the temple.
Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi convened a meeting of local police officers and said elaborate arrangements would be made in the city to meet the situation.