Jagannath Temple servitors decry suspension order

Puri, Sep 14 (UNI) The servitors of Lord Jagannath called ''Daita'' have described the action of Temple authority to suspend two of their servitors as ''arbitrary, unwarranted and unfortunate''.

At a meeting held here yesterday they have decided to go to the devotees and the public to garner their support to exert pressure on the temple administration to withdraw suspension order.

The Jagannath temple administration recently suspended Jagannath Swain, the chief daita servitor leader of Lord Jagannath and his son Rajkumar for allegedly misbehaving with the temple chief security officer and obstructing the view of the ''Sunavesha'' of Lord Jagannath during the concluding ceremony of Rathayatra.

Describing themselves a set of special servitors, known as the body protectors of the Lord Jagannath, and tracing their lineage to the Biswabasu, the tribal king who worshipped the lord in hill cave before they were installed in this present temple, the Daita leaders told newsmen here that the record of right has not empowered the Temple administration to take such punitive measures against them.

They further said a similar abortive attempt to punish the daitas in 1992 had clearly settled that the administration had no such powers.

Stating that the action was a deliberate attempt of the temple chief administrator to humiliate the community in the public, the daita leaders said they would agitate the issue in the proper court and seek public support for their cause till a logical conclusion was achieved.

The meeting of the daitas passed a resolution condemning the action of the temple administration and demanded unconditional withdrawal of the suspension order.

Daitapati Nijog president Kasinath Dasmahapatra,Secretary Ram Chandra Dasmohapatra and working president Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra who addressed the meeting said they have decided not to co-operate Temple chief administrator S.C.Mahapatra.

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