Puri, August 20: The silent satyagraha padayatra by residents of Puri, demanding a special entry and darshan facility at the Srimandir, continued on Wednesday, marking the 142nd consecutive day of their protest.

The protesters have been undertaking a daily padayatra from the Bhakta Salabega Peetha to the Srimandir and staging a sit-in near the temple’s western gate, seeking a dedicated darshan arrangement for local residents.

For the past week, the protesters had been entering the temple through the western gate after producing their Aadhaar cards. However, on Wednesday, they were stopped by police personnel despite showing their Aadhaar cards.

The security personnel reportedly told the protesters that there was no official instruction permitting Puri residents to enter the temple on the basis of Aadhaar cards alone. Following this, the protesters staged a sit-in near the western gate in protest.

More than 30 senior citizens from Puri, besides several women, are participating in the ongoing padayatra and protest.

Satyagraha convenor Swadhin Kumar Panda said the protest would continue until a permanent solution was reached. He demanded that the government issue a written order formally providing a special entry and darshan facility for Puri residents.

Panda also pointed out that during the second coordination meeting for the Rath Yatra on June 23, the Law Minister had announced that Puri residents would be provided special entry and darshan facilities through Aadhaar cards.

“Despite the Rath Yatra being over, the announced arrangement has not yet been implemented,” Panda said, urging the government to honour its commitment and introduce the promised facility at the earliest.