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Bhubaneswar: Under pressure from different sections, KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta today tendered unconditional apology for conducting his own ‘Pusyaviseka’ on the lines of Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb and promised no recurrence of such act in future.
Through an official communication from KIIT, Samanta also held the trustee of KIIT Jagannath temple known as Sribani Khetra responsible for such mistake. "A controversial matter related to the 'Pusyaviseka' ritual at Sribani Khetra came to my notice. I am deeply saddened for that. The ritual was conducted due to the wrong decision of Sribani Khetra temple authorities. Such incident will not occur in future. I personally apologise for that," he stated through the statement.
Samanta had drawn flak from Jagannath Sena, Srikhetra Swabhiman Manch and pandits of Puri Mukti Mandap after the photos of his coronation went viral on social media. The pictures showed him in royal attire being coronated to the chanting of vedic hymns by Brahmins on day of Pousa Purnima at KIIT Jagannath temple.
A Puri-based lawyer also lodged a complaint at Singhadwara police station in this connection.
Members of Mukti Mandap Pandit sabha staged demonstration in front of Srimandir today and demanded that Samanta should come to Puri and seek forgiveness for insulting the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and disrespecting Jagannath culture.
The Jagannath Sena and Srikhetra Swabhiman Manch had also held similar agitation by burning Samanta’s photos and raising slogans against him yesterday. They alleged that the KIIT founder misrepresented the ritual of Sri Naar (Puri King’s palace).
The ‘Pusyaviseka’ ritual is only reserved for Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb.
