Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 21: Bedlam prevailed in the state assembly Saturday over the decision of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) not to allow devotees for ‘Nabajoubana Darshan’ of Trinity – Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra – after their Nabakalebar July 17 this year.
Raising the issue during zero hour, BJP legislator BB Harichandan and Pradeep Purohit criticised the government. Purohit said, “Neither SJTA nor the state government has any right to interfere in the rituals of Lord Jagannath. By depriving devotees to the ‘Nabajauban’ darshan ritual this year, the government has hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of devotees.”
BJP legislator Rabi Narayan Patra said, “If the government on the pretext of crowds can ban Nabajauban Darshan, some day it may abandon Rath Yatra celebration altogether. The SJTA is not above the government. The state government must stop SJTA from taking such decisions.”
As their pleas were lost in the din, BJP members trooped into the well of the House disrupting the proceedings for a while before staging a silent protest.
The members demanded a ruling from the Speaker on the matter. The issue was also raised by the Congress and other members during the discussion on tourism-related issues through an adjournment motion brought by Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
Participating in the debate, BJD member Amar Satpathy said the state government did not have any role in it. The SJTA had decided to restrict the devotees on Nabajobana Darshan day. The SJTA could reconsider its decision,
Satpathy said.
