The management of the Jagannath temple in Puri on Wednesday denied that they had received complaints from Rashtrapati Bhavan that priests blocked President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind’s way while they were visiting the shrine in March. Media reports had said that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration received a Rashtrapati Bhavan letter which alleged that priests blocked Kovind and his wife near the sanctum sanctorum.
But the administration did not deny the reports of misconduct. “We have not received any communication from the president’s office. They have not even made any oral complaint to us about misconduct by anyone,” Shree Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator PK Mohapatra told PTI. “However, we are concerned over alleged misbehaviour towards devotees visiting the temple.” Mohapatra said the matter is being investigated.
Odisha government Chief Secretary AP Padhi also denied receiving any letter from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
However, minutes of the management committee meeting held on March 20, two days after the incident, show that the Rashtrapati Bhavan “expressed displeasure” over the conduct of some priests when the President and the First Lady visited the shrine, PTI said.
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