Bhubaneswar, July 20: Goons have dismantled a plaque at Puri railway station that supported the cause of the Dalits’ entry into the 12th-century Sri Jagannath temple.

The plaque said that Mahatama Gandhi had visited a place called Delanga, which is only 32km away from Puri, in 1939. However, Gandhiji did not enter the Puri temple protesting against the non-entry of Dalits.

He had also berated his wife Kasturaba Gandhi and personal secretary Mahadev Deshai for visiting the temple against his wishes. The visit to Orissa was a part of Mahatma’s campaign for the rights of the Harijans (Dalits).

The Puri government railway police (GRP) said: “Since the station master has not filed any complaint, there has been no inquiry into the incident. Someone has to file an FIR first. However, we are aware of this development and trying to find out who is behind it.” The dismantling of the plaque took place soon after senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, stirred a hornet’s nest by arguing in favour of entry of non-Hindus into the temple. No BJD leader has come out openly to make party stand on the issue clear. Earlier, the party had made a big hue and cry over the entry of senior Congress leader, Jagdish Tytler, into the temple. Puri MLA and Panchyati Raj minister, Maheswar Mohanty, had taken a frontal role in the agitation against Tytler. Most of the loyalists of Mohapatra had also opposed Tytler’s entry into the Puri temple.

The party had even threatened to restrict Tytler’s movement in the State. Later, Tytler had to make a statement that he was a Hindu and had earlier visited the temple.

In yet another development, Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch advisor and one of the loyalist of Mohapatra, Jajpur MP Mohan Jena said: “Dalits should be allowed entry into all the temples in the country.”

Though the Jagannath Temple allowed Dalits into the temple, its sevayats were against the entry of non-Hindus. However, in a number of temples, Dalits are still not allowed entry.