Post News Network
Puri, June 23: In the wake of massive public outrage over bungling during performance of Brahma Paribartan rituals, five Daitapati servitors Tuesday afternoon recorded their statements in the court of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration chief Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, explaining the delay in installation of Brahma in the new idols.
The servitors, after they returned from Srimandir administrative office, remained tight-lipped about what transpired between them and the SJTA chief. However, Biswabasu Binayak Das Mohapatra said, “The act of ‘Brahma Paribartan’ was delayed and I demanded action against the guilty during the hearing. I have answered all the questions but cannot disclose them.”
Daita Niyog secretary Premananda Das Mohapatra said he was asked 10 questions to which he answered. “I feel sorry for the disturbances that had taken place during the observance of the most important ritual of the Trinity and apologise before the people of the state for the grave lapse,” he added, Niyog’s president Ramkrushna Mohapatra also refused to divulge details about the hearing but assured the media he would speak about it after the Rath Yatra.
Speaking to the media, SJTA administrator Suresh Chandra Mohaptra said 10 Maharana servitors have been asked to depose June 25 and action would be taken after analysing all their statements. Meanwhile, a day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed four ministers to camp in Puri to ensure seamless execution of plans leading to the ‘Rath Yatra’ next month, the ministers reached Puri Tuesday.
The Chief Minister had come down heavily on the law minister and other senior officials for the lapses in the performance of ‘Brahma Parivartan’ that had caused a huge embarrassment to the state government.
The CM directed law minister Arun Kumar Sahu, housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singhdeo, energy minister Pranab Prakash Dash and health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to supervise works of their respective departments ahead of Rath Yatra July 18. nContinued on P5
