Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reproached the Director General of Police (DGP), Sanjeev Marik for touching the feet of a senior Daitapati priests in uniform. After two months, the images of obsequious act of Sanjeev Marik touching the feet of servitor on duty during the Banajaga Yatra at the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri. On watching the visuals of Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik, Chief Minister of Odisha,  Naveen Patnaik warned the top cop not to repeat the action in future.

Also Read: Pankaja Munden Says “I Have Done No Wrong”

According to the reliable sources from CM’s office, Sanjeev Marik was called up by the Chief Minister yesterday to his State Secretariat chamber and asked Marik to keep in mind the position and the power he holds as a 1981batch Senior IPS officer and advised him to maintain dignity. Naveen reproached him for contravening the service conduct rules and smoothly warned him to be careful in future so that such things do not recrudesce.

Damodar Rout, the Excise and Cooperation Minister said, “Marik’s public conduct in uniform is not acceptable. Chief Minister has expressed displeasure over the matter.”

DGP’s Cringing act Images goes Viral after Two Months

The pictures of DGP Marik Marik in uniform with cap on his head touching the feet of Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, the senior Priest Jagannath temple in Puri were shown as visuals in all the television channels. The Senior Servitor is the President of Daitapati Nijog (union) and the Protector of Lord Jagannath’s body (or Badagrahi Jagannath Dasmohapatra). During his visit to the location of Sudarshan’s daru (neem tree) at Gadakhuntunia village for the ceremony of ‘Nabakalebara’ festival in Khurda district, Marik touched the feet of Daitapati Priests in plain uniform with a cap over his head.

Speaking on the issue, Marik said: “I have already given my reaction on the issue at the time. The Chief Minister asked me to ensure foolproof police bandobast during the Rath Yatra.”

Naveen Patnaik also warned Marik not to tolerate any indiscipline during the Rath Yatra that has been scheduled to be held on July 18.

The Chief Minister reacted and warned the DGP after two months as he was forced to act after opposition Congress and BJP blamed him for mismanaging the most important ritual Nabakalebara, the holy event of re-embodiment of the idols that happens between 12-19 years. This year, the festival has been galloped with some controversies because of the temple servitors failing to cling the age-old rituals of the famous temple.