After two days of disruptions in Odisha assembly over ritualistic 'irregularities' in Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri, the government today admitted delay in observance of rituals, but denied that deities were left fasting.
"It is a fact that there has been delay in certain rituals, but the deities are not kept on total fasting," Law Minister Pratap Jena informed the House.
Jena made the statement after Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat directed him to do so following disruption of the proceedings since yesterday.
On the allegation that the deities were not offered 'bhog' yesterday, Jena said, "Though other morning rituals were performed on April 17, the temple kitchen could not function as the 'mahaprasad' was kept there due to delay in rituals on the previous day."
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