Odisha Minister says queue system not required in Puri temple

Odisha Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty Saturday said the administration should refrain from making the queue system arrangement for pilgrims entering the Puri Jagannath temple.

The Sree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on October 1 had introduced the queue system for pilgrims entering the 12th century shrine.

Mohanty, also the Puri MLA, said that such queue system was not required in Jagannath temple keeping in view its grand size.

"Puri temple has huge open space while other temples in the country are located in narrow areas. This apart, while other temples have one deity, Puri Srimandir has multiple deities. Therefore, some flexibility should be there," Mohanty told reporters here.

Mohanty, whose house was also attacked by agitators during Puri bandh called by a socio-cultural organisation to protest the queue system on October 3, said the devotes need to go left while looking at Lord Jagannath and to right to see Lord Balabhadra.

As Devi Subhadra is located in the centre, one can she her from the front. Therefore, what is the requirement of a queue system? Mohanty asked.

Stating that such decision should not be taken in a haste, the minister said the dispute over the queue system should be discussed from different angles.

Mohanty said he would request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik if the state needs to inform the Supreme Court on the technical difficulties of queue system in the temple.

Meanwhile, the Puri police Saturday arrested 10 more people for their alleged involvement in the violence in the holy town on October 3. The arrests were made on the basis of the CCTV footage.

"We had arrested 11 people on Friday and another 10 people on Saturday. The mischief mongers are being booked," Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi told reporters.

The Singhadwara Police station had registered nine cases and the Town Police station had registered six cases after some hooligans went on a rampage and ransacked the assets of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and several government properties.

Shree Jagannath Sena, a local socio-cultural outfit had given the Puri bandh call on October 3 protesting against the queue system introduced by the SJTA on October 1.