VHP holds rally in city, calls Govt 'shameless'

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday lashed out at the State Government for breaching the age-old sacred tradition by delaying the Brahma Parivartan ritual of the deities of Shreemandir.Attending a massive rally organised by the VHP near the Raj Bhavan here, VHP leaders dubbed the Government “shameless and arrogant”.

The leaders criticised law Minister Arun Sahu, whose photo (in sleeping posture at Sabarpalli meant for only Daitapatis) is doing the rounds in the social networking sites, for his incapability to conduct the rituals, resulting in the Brahma Parivartan fiasco.VHP leaders and BJP leaders including Pratap Sarangi said some BJD leaders, including Ministers and the officers deputed for the Shreemandir management feel the temple belongs to them and do what they want.

later, a delegation met the Governor and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard. In the memorandum, the VHP urged the Governor to give direction to the Government to take necessary and exemplary actions so that this type of shameful incidents can be prevented in future and the esteem of Odisha won’t get let down before the world.

The leaders told the Governor that the honour of lord Jagannath’s first servitor Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth, who has final say regarding the Shreemandir rituals according to tradition, shouldn’t be lowered.The VHP leaders also demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the Brahma Parivartan delay.The VHP informed that it would intensify the agitation on the issue against the Government.