A large number of senior citizens, intellectuals, and followers of the Jagnnath cult here led by former Deputy Speaker and senior BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda submitted a memorandum to the State Governor through the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern Division) on Saturday, requesting him to advise the Government to maintain and protect dignity of Puri Shankaracharya and abide by his recommendations in the matter of religious affairs and traditions of the lord Jagannath temple.
The Government has breached the customary and traditional sanctity by overlooking the advice of Puri Gobardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati on the issue of climbing chariots and touching deities by devotees, the memorandum said.
The unwarranted intervention of the Government in religious rites of Hindus is against Article-26 of the Indian Constitution which vests the freedom of management of religious affairs on the community which literally and traditionally lies with the seers and religious heads among whom the Shankaracharya holds a key and undisputed position as adjudicator of religious procedures, the memorandum pointed out.
The State Government by its decision has not only diluted the sanctity of Gobardhan Peeth, but also the sanctity of Mukti-Mandap Sabha and Puri Maharaja, the memorandum said.
later, speaking to the media, the members expressed their satisfaction and welcomed the most judicious ruling given by the State High Court in the matter on Friday last. Among others, the signatories of the memorandum included veteran teacher leader and senior citizen Govinda Chandra Das, BJP leader Gopinath Panda, Dist BJP president BK Swain,
Sunil Kumar Sahu (Banti); former BMC Mayor and BJP leader Shivashankar Das, BJP Youth leader Prabhat Kiran Sadangi, Pramod Kumar Panda and Anup Kumar Panda.