BHUBANESWAR: Even as tension continued to prevail in Keredagada and surrounding villages in Kendrapara district, Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch on Saturday announced its decision to postpone the programme of the entry of Dalits into the local Jagannath temple.

In a statement, the Manch, which has been spearheading the movement, said it had decided to postpone the programme following High Court's order of status quo at Keredagada temple.

The Manch had, earlier, announced that Dalits of Keredagada and nearby villages would enter the Jagannath temple on Sunday.

The Manch said it would chalk out its future course of action only after the High Court disposed of the petition on the issue. The case is likely to come up for further hearing on November 29.

Acting upon a petition by the Kendrapara administration, the court had ordered that no one, except the priests and Sevayats, be allowed entry into the temple till the disposal of the petition.

The Vichar Manch had initially announced to organise the temple entry programme on November 19.

However, it had shifted the date to November 26 after discussions with the local administration.

The district administration had come under criticism from various quarters for not facilitating entry of the Dalits into the temple.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had also announced its decision to participate in the temple entry programme of the Dalits.

The administration had found itself in a tight spot in view of the strong opposition from the upper caste people of the area to the proposed entry of the Dalits into the temple.

The issue was also raised in the State Assembly by Biju Janata Dal legislator Ranendra Pratap Swain during the zero hour on Friday.

Violation of rights

Stating that not allowing the Dalits enter the temple amounted to violation of their Constitutional rights, Mr. Swain demanded that the issue should be discussed in the Assembly.

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