Daitapati servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple here on Tuesday warned the State Government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) that they would not cooperate with them vis-à-vis Nabakalebar issues until Rath Yatra dues have not been paid to them.
They staged a walkout midway from the Nabakalebara Infrastructure Monitoring Committee meeting as the Government and the SJTA officials failed to make a commitment on dues payment. The meeting, presided over by committee Chairman Maheswar Mohanty, had invited servitors to discuss ways for smooth conduct of Nabakalebara festival in 2015. But the servitors insisted that they be paid dues first before any discussion.
While the Chairman lent his support to their demand, the servitors told the officials that they would perform the Nabakalebara ritual of the lords at their own cost as their forefathers had done in 1950 and staged a walkout. As the meeting could not be held, the committee has convened another meeting on January 6.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Energy Secretary and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the 2015 Nabakalebara festival Suresh Mohapatra said the meeting discussed the smooth conduct of the Nabakalebara festival process for which would begin from March 29, 2015. Referring to the arrear dues of the Daitapatis, Mohapatra said the law Department has taken up the issue and would take a decision soon.
Sources said the Government officials present at the meeting expressed their inability to make a promise to the servitors on payment of their dues. Among others, Puri SP Ashish Singh, ASP Banabihari Sahu, Niti and Surakhya administratots, Daitapati Nijog permanent president Debaraj Mohapatra, president Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, working president Ramachandra Dasmohapatra, secretary Premananda Dasmohapatra and assistant secretary Binayak Dasmohapatra were present.
It may be noted that the State Government had debarred devotees from climbing atop the chariot during the Rath Yatra in June as per the advice of the Shankaracharya. As Daitapatis expressed resentments and warned to boycott rituals, the Government promised to compensate them for the ‘loss’ they would incur due to the decision after completion of the Rath Yatra. They are yet to get the compensation.