BHUBANESWAR: After the
Puri district administration revoked queue system at Jagannath temple for only Puri-based residents, pilgrims from outside the town criticised the move, alleging discrimination. Many of them urged the Supreme Court to intervene as the queue reform came into being following an interim directive by the apex court.
On Wednesday, the administration extended the special privilege to the Puri locals after massive violence swept the temple town during a bandh call given by Jagannath Sena, a social outfit, on Wednesday in protest against the queue system in the shrine. As per the privilege, Puri locals would not join the queue and can enter the shrine by showing any identity card that would establish their residence proof in Puri. The administration, however, has not clarified whether the facility is only for the people of Puri town or the entire district.
“We do not understand the logic behind preventing Puri locals from standing in queue for darshan. The bandh was observed by Jagannath Sena, demanding complete revocation of queue system. We wonder what promoted the administration to make a discriminatory stand and order the queue system for non-Puri devotees,” said a Rourkela-based banker Ashish Rath, who along with his wife stood in queue on Thursday to enter the shrine.
Meghna Banerjee, another pilgrim from Kolkata, too expressed displeasure over the partisan move. “I came to know that the Supreme Court had asked the administration to introduce queue system in the temple to ensure hassle-free darshan. I do not think the Supreme Court would agree to allow only Puri-based residents to skip the queue. The apex court should intervene in the matter,” Banerjee told TOI.
Debashis Mohanty, another tourist from Dhenkanal, wondered if the Jagannath temple exists for the people of Puri alone. “We are also staunch devotees of Jagannath. Why should we stand in queue and wait for the Lord’s darshan whereas locals would be given non-queue access,” Mohanty said.
Srikhetra Swabhiman Mancha, a socio-cultural outfit, said the administration’s discriminatory stand may trigger fresh controversy. “We never expected that devotees would ever be asked to flash their identity cards to enter a temple. We do not support such discrimination. Queue system should completely be withdrawn for all. Else, the discriminatory move would lead to chaos and regional imbalance,” said Debasis Das, convener of the Mancha. Jagannath Sena’s convener Priyardarshan Pattnaik too flayed the discriminatory move and demanded equal rights for all.
District collector Jyoti Prakash Dash avoided when asked about the alleged discrimination against devotees from outside Puri. “Our special arrangement for Puri-based devotees is temporary. Since the queue system has been launched on experimental basis, we will keep improving it,” Dash told TOI.
