Row over BJD MPs Jagannath temple remark

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks adviser and BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra has stoked a controversy by arguing that Jagannath Temple.

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Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks adviser and BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra has stoked a controversy by arguing that Jagannath Temple in Puri should be open to all irrespective of caste,creed and religion.

On Sunday,speaking at a workshop on ways to promote tourism in Orissa,Mohapatra argued that if everyone is allowed entry into the 12th century temple,the tourist inflow will go up by more than 50 per cent.

When Hindus are allowed into mosques and churches elsewhere in the country and abroad,why should there be restriction on entry of people belonging to other religions to the Puri temple. After all,Lord Jagannath is considered as a universal God, said Mohapatra.

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Mohapatras comment provoked outbursts in Puri where temple servitors and members of Jagannath Sena,a local NGO,burned his effigy demanding immediate apology.

Who gave authority to Mr Mohapatra to make such an irresponsible statement? He should mind his own business? He seems to be acting at the behest of ISKCON, said Priyadarshan Patnaik,president of Jagannath Sena. Patnaik also lodged an FIR against Mohapatra for hurting Hindu sentiments.

Chief temple priest Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said there should be no attempt to break the temple tradition.

Since Lord Jagannath gives darshan to all his devotees during Rath Yatra,there is no need to distort the long-practised tradition. Mohapatra is behaving like Kalapahada,the idol destroyer of the 16th century, he said.