A 22-member delegation of the Chhatisa Nijog Sevayats of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence Naveen Niwas here on Sunday.
They met Patnaik over suggestions made by the Supreme Court for carrying out reforms in the Shreemandir.
“The servitors will oppose the entry of people of other faiths into the temple and would present their stand in this regard in the Supreme Court. Politics shouldn’t be done in the name of religion, and the Apex court’s suggestions are not something over which discussion is needed as it will only further complicate the issue, said Singhari Nijog president Ramchandra Singhari to reporters after meeting the CM.
On the issue of abolition of hereditary system of service by sevayats in the Shreemandir, Singhari said the matter is still in discussion stage. He added that they have put forth four to five demands before the Chief Minister for his consideration.
Puri MP Pinaki Misra, who accompanied the Nijog’s members, said the sevayats have given a representation to the CM, stating that they were not heard by the Supreme Court while passing the interim orders on July 5.
“We will present our stand in the Supreme Court,” he added.
Speaking on the Sevak system, he said the centuries-old hereditary system of worship at the Srimandir has not been properly communicated to the court.
“The three-member committee constituted by the State Government needs to be apprised about this system so that it could furnish a proper report in the court,” said. Misra.
“The opinion of the Shankaracharya and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and other concerned persons would be taken into account and a report in this regard would be submitted in the apex court,” he said.
The MP further said, “The next hearing in the court is scheduled to be held on September 5. In the meantime, the servitors can keep their views before amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium, who will visit Puri.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters that advices of the Puri Shankaracharya and the Gajapati Maharaja should guide any move for entry of Non-Hindus into the Jagannath Temple. This is a “very sensitive issue”, he added.