Govt stand breach of Article 26: BJP
Senior BJP leader and former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda has described the stand of the State Government on the chariot issue as unfortunate.
He said that not following the recommendation of Puri Gobardhan Peetha Sankaracharya Neeschalanda Saraswati in the matter of touching the deities atop the chariots and taking a decision unilaterally by the Government amount to unwarranted intervention in the religious rites of the Hindus.
“Article 26 of Indian Constitution vests the freedom of management of religious affairs on the community which literally and traditionally lies with the respective seers and religious heads. Sankaracharya holds an undisputed position as an adjudicator of religious procedures and not respecting his verdict is against the principle of the Constitution,” Panda pointed out.
The contrary stand of the State Government has only complicated the matter and undermines the sacred role Sankaracharya, who is considered as the Supreme authority in the religious matters of crores of Hindus in our country, he said.
Unfortunately, the development can be considered as a divisive manoeuvre intended to gain an advantage and confuse the Hindu communities, he lamented.
Panda advised the Government to maintain and protect “Garima” and “Gourab” of the Sankaracharya, who is synonymous with a self-governed, supreme, and sacred institution.
“No one, how supreme and rich might be, has the right to intervene in the rulings and advices of religious heads and seers irrespective of religion, as such unwanted encroachment and unsolicited advice may mar the sanctity of the religious institutions,” he added.