'Odisha govt played with emotions of Jagannath followers'

Secretary of Daitapati Nijog, a prominent association of servitors of Puri Jagannath temple, Durga Dasmohapatra speaks on the Supreme Court’s order to stop Rath Yatra this year in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
What will be future course of action of servitors?
Though review petition in the Supreme Court is the only option left now for us, we have now very little time left to challenge the order. Rath Yatra is on June 23, barely four days left. We are at a loss. It seems everything was pre-planned so that we would not get time to challenge the order.
What do you expect from the temple administration?
We are shocked that neither the temple administration nor the state government tried to convince the apex court that the Rath Yatra can be observed with the participation of devotees, just as the government did on June 5 Debasnan Purnima. The government already started making Rath preparations, chariot work, Covid-19 test for servitors and installation of barricades across Puri town to prevent people from gathering Grand Road on Rath Yatra. But in the Supreme Court, the government counsel said Rath Yatra, if allowed, would draw 10-12 lakh people and trigger Covid explosion. The government did not try to convince the court about the temple managing committee’s proposal to observe the festival without the participation of devotees. Government played with emotions of Jagannath followers.
Government said they would comply with the Supreme Court’s verdict?
The government should have made its stand clear much earlier. Instead of opposing the PIL petitioner, who had sought deferment of Rath Yatra, the government told the court that the festival would indeed led to huge congregation. The government’s stand against Rath Yatra looked obvious when the government extended ban on religious functions till June 30. While speculations were at peak about the fate of Rath Yatra, the government kept silence. Government also kept silence in the Supreme Court. The government didn't try to convince the SC that the festival could be observed without participation of devotees.
Should the Rath rituals be held inside the temple now?
A: It depends on the government whether they will consult the Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on the matter. We are all deeply hurt. Age-old tradition has been disrupted after more than 200-250 years during which the festival could not be held due to invasions by Mughals.