FIR Against ISKCON For Hurting Religious Sentiments

Puri: An FIR was lodged at the Singhadwara Police Station in Puri against International Society for Krishna Consciousness(ISKCON) authorities for their decision to observe Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Punjab's Ludhiana later this year.

Reports say, two outfits namely Sri Jagannath Sena and Sachetan Nagarika Manch have alleged that ISKCON authorities and workers have hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees by deciding to observe Rath Yatra in Ludhiana on 17th of November this year.

Speaking on the issue, Priyadarshan Patnaik, Convenor of Jagannath Sena said, "The 2nd day of Shukla Paksh in the month of Ashadh is the designated date of Ratha Jatra. They are doing it wrong and it has hurt Jagannath followers a lot. That's why the FIR is lodged. We have also requested Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Gajapati Maharaj, CJI, Superintendent of Police and the DG of Police to arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible."

Every year the annual sojourn of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Deity Subhadra to their aunt's place is undertaken on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksh in the month of Ashadh as per Srimandir customs. It's been the same all over the world, wherever Rath Yatra is observed.

"We will submit our demands to the concerned minister on 10th of September. If this outrageous act by the ISKCON isn't stopped, we will launch a huge demonstration uniting all the Jagannath lovers across the state," said senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra.

Similarly, an organisation in Rourkela named 'Lead Rourkela' has lodged an FIR in the Chhend Police Station objecting ISKCON worker Amit Garg's derogatory statement on Puri Rath Yatra.