Ram Nath Kovind with his wife Savita Kovind (File Photo)

BHUBANESWAR: The Puri district administration has launched a probe into the harassment meted out to President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita during their maiden visit to the Jagannath Temple on March 18 this year.

A group of servitors had blocked the President’s path near the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine and shoved the First Lady, say the minutes of a March 20 meeting held by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

On March 19, Rashtrapati Bhavan had sent a strong note of protest against the servitors’ conduct to Puri collector Aravind Agarwal. The minutes of the SJTA meeting, also seen by TOI, came to light on Tuesday.

SJTA chief administrator, IAS officer Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, admitted that the President and the First Lady were inconvenienced inside the temple but refused to comment further. “We discussed the matter at a meeting of the temple managing committee a few days ago. It is being investigated,” he said.

Rajya Sabha MP and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said the collector had started an investigation. “The temple administration is also probing the matter,” he added. Despite repeated attempts, the collector was not available for comment.

On March 18, the temple was kept out of bounds for devotees from 6.35am to 8.40am to ensure smooth darshan for the dignitaries. A handful of servitors and government officers were allowed to accompany Kovind and his wife inside the temple. “We can’t understand why the district administration failed to prevent the unpleasant situation. Until now, only common devotees were exploited by the servitors. Now it seems not even the President is spared,” said Congress leader Suresh Routray.

