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ASP activists stage demonstration

Staff Reporter

Demand `absolute entry' of dalits into Keredagada Jagannath temple

TICKLISH ISSUE: Activists of Ambedkar Smruti Parishad staging a dharna before Raj Bhaban in Bhubneswar on Friday.

BHUBANESWAR: Activists of Ambedkar Smruti Parishad (ASP) staged a demonstration in front of Raj Bhawan here on Friday demanding removal of the iron grill erected at Lord Jagannath temple at Keredagada village of Kendrapara district to facilitate `absolute entry' of dalit devotees into the temple.

The demonstration came close on the heels of a petition filed in Orissa High court stating that court's order was followed half-heartedly to allow dalits' entry into the temple.

"The persons and officials, who are flouting and violating the High Court order, may kindly be taken to tasks as per the provisions of law," ASP President Pradip Kumar Mallick said.

After campaign seeking dalits' entry into the Jagannath Temple gained momentum, the High Court, hearing a public interest litigation, had ruled that all Hindus could enter into any Hindu temple.

Subsequently, the district administration, villagers belonging to upper castes and dalits came to an agreement that all villagers could see the deities from a particular point and sanctum sanctorum was protected with another grill. Prior to that, dalits were allowed to see the idol through nine holes in the boundary wall.

Memo submitted

The ASP submitted a memorandum to Governor Rameshwar Thakur seeking his intervention in the matter.

Alleging that High Court's order was not followed in true spirit, Mr. Mallick said, "the administration has allowed creation of another temple inside a temple to avoid punitive action in wake of court's direction. The Governor should direct the State Government to remove the final barrier before the lord." The petition filed by one Akshaya Mallick in High Court against the State Government and district administration said high court order was violated on the issue of allowing dalits' entry into the temple. It alleged even priests of temple were refusing to give `prasad' to devotees belonging to lower castes.

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