Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, who did not take part in the rath yatra yesterday, has lambasted the Naveen Patnaik government for failing to maintain the dignity of his office and said that the state was suffering because it had neglected its religious leaders.

“I want justice. I will not buckle under any kind of pressure,” the seer said.

He was annoyed with the state government for the way it sidelined him and went ahead with the rath yatra.

“I don’t fear anyone. I will stick to my stand,” he said.

The Shankaracharya said that he took the decision to bar devotees from climbing the chariots after consulting a number of scholars from different parts of the country.

The seer was unhappy with the temple administration as it had requested him to climb the chariots alone in accordance with the high court’s direction.

The seer apparently wanted his followers to accompany him while offering prayers to the deities on the chariots.

“The administration’s letter to him reflects lack of respect for Shankaracharya,” his spokesperson Manoj Rath said.

Shankaracharya’s decision to skip the rath yatra had stirred a controversy. Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb came to his defence and said it was wrong on the part of the temple administration to put any restriction on the Shankaracharya.

“Both the state government and the temple administration should make efforts to ensure that the traditional role of the seer remains intact. I hope that they would facilitate the traditional rituals performed by the Shankaracharya on the chariots from next year,” Deb said.

The King further said that it was the Shankaracharya who should decide how many people should accompany him on the chariots.

“When the President of India visits the temple, his office decides how many people would accompany him. The same principle should be adopted in the case of Shanakaracharya. No one should dictate to him in these matters,” Deb said.

Lord Jagannath’s chief sevayat (servitor) Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said: “We have all respect for Guruji. We don’t want to undermine his dignity. We just insisted that the high court’s order be followed. If we allow a few people to climb the chariots, what about the other 10 lakh devotees.”

The Daitapati Niyog president Ramkrushna Das Mohapatra said: “ We are really sorry about this unprecedented happening. We don’t know why he did not turn up. Had he come, we would certainly have welcomed him. Next year, I will personally go and persuade him to come. We are against breaking of any traditions.”

However, all the rituals relating to the chariots were completed peacefully today.