VHP opposes entry on non-Hindus into Srimandir

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today strongly opposed the entry of people of non-Hindus into the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and said it would file a review petition in Supreme Court to reconsider its proposal on this, Odisha VHP top leader said today.

The organisation's state working president Badrinath Patnaik told PTI that Puri Gajapati king Divyasingha Deb and Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati should be consulted before taking any step in the temple.

Presently only Hindus are allowed entry into the 12th century shrine, also known as the Sri Mandir.

The VHP leader also did not accept the apex court's proposal of abolishing the hereditary servitor tradition in the Shree Jagannath temple.

Patnaik said, "The state government will be urged to maintain its existing stand to this effect failing which we will file a review petition in a higher bench of the Supreme Court."
Insisting that the Puri Gajapati king and the Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth in Puri should be consulted before taking any step in the temple, he said "How can anyone deny the basic rights of a servitor? The temple records of rights and the Shree Jagannath Temple Act protect the rights of servitors serving at the temple since generations."
Stating that the hereditary service of the servitors is clearly mentioned in section 15 clause 1 of Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1952, he wondered why the advocate general, who was representing the state government at the time of the submission of the report by the Puri district judge, did not oppose the recommendation of the apex court on the matter?