Tension prevails at Jagannath temple over queue system
Bhubaneswar, Oct 3 : Tension prevailed on Wednesday at Jagannath temple in Puri as a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk shutdown to protest against the introduction of a queue system for 'darshan' turned violent.
An irate mob attempted to barge into the 12th-century shrine, removed the barricades erected near the temple and ransacked the office of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
The bandh call was given by socio-cultural organisation Jagannath Sena against the newly-introduced queue system in which the devotees have to enter the shrine by forming a queue at the Singhadwara, which is the main entrance to the temple. After having a 'darshan' of the deities, they have to exit through three other gates.
As part of their protest, they also ransacked the house of local MLA and Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty and hurled stones at Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarthak Sarangi's official residence, police said.
Police said the protesters also ransacked a police outpost and an information centre near the Singhadwara.
The agitators staged a road blockade on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) by burning tyres, bringing vehicular movement to a grinding halt.
Police took Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Patnaik under preventive detention.
"Ask the police why they have arrested me. I am ready to die for Lord Jagannath. The protests you have witnessed today is just the beginning. We will intensify our agitation further," Patnaik told the media persons.
In order to disperse the protesters, the police resorted to mild lathi charge and lobbed tear gas on the grand road.
Puri Collector Jyoti Prakash Das said the administration took quick steps to bring the situation under control and prevent any further flare up.
He said a peace committee meeting will be held to sort out the issue.
"We appeal to the people to maintain peace. The protesters became violent by being emotional. The district administration will sit with them and resolve the issue," said Central Inspector General Soumendra Priyadarshi.
He said while the queue system was introduced for the public on an experimental basis, a review would be done as locals opposed it.
Meanwhile, police conducted a flag march on Puri Grand Road after the law and order situation deteriorated over the introduction of the queue system.
Director General of Police (DGP) R.P. Sharma also reviewed the situation.
The queue system was implemented for the first time by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on an experimental basis on October 1 as part of the reform measures suggested by the Supreme Court. However, devotees have expressed displeasure over the system.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
