Other States - Orissa   

Manch to go ahead with temple entry

Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR: Backed by the High Court order which made it clear that every Hindu, irrespective of his caste, could enter any Hindu temple, the Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch on Tuesday firmed its resolve to facilitate entry of dalits into the Jagannath temple at Keredagada village in Kendrapara.

Talking to The Hindu , its chairman Sangram Mallick said the State committee of their organisation would meet on December 9 to discuss the whole issue and decide on the date for organising the dalit entry programme.

The Bhubaneswar-based manch has been spearheading the movement for dalit entry into the 300-year-old temple in the face of stiff resistance from the upper caste people in Keredagada and its adjoining villages.

Observing that law was very clear on the issue of entry of dalits into temples, Mr. Mallick said those belonging to the upper castes should now respect the High Court order and allow dalits into the temple.

When contacted over phone, Kendrapara Distrcit Collector Kashinath Sahu said that efforts were on to solve the issue amicably. Stating that he was yet to see the copy of the High Court order, Mr. Sahu said discussions with representatives of both dalits and upper castes were going on to find out a solution to put an end to the controversy.

Court order hailed

Welcoming the High Court order, president of the Orissa unit of the Samajwadi Party Baishnab Parida said: "the court order should be implemented in all Hindu temples in the States to bring an end to the injustice that had been done to dalits till date."

The Police had been standing guard at the Keredagada temple following an interim order of the High Court that status quo be maintained at the shrine.

The court's interim order came on November 24 when tension prevailed in Keredagada area in view of decision of the manch to organise the dalit entry programme.

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