PURI — Firing another salvo against ISKCON monks, nearly hundred priests of Sri Jagannath Temple here sat on a dharna yesterday demanding a ban on the entry of ‘converted’ Hindus into the 12th century shrine.

In a memorandum to Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilanee (SJSS) said only ‘Hindus by birth’ should be allowed into the temple, one of the four important ‘dhams’ for Hindus in the country. Earlier last week, the priests had criticised ISKCON for holding ‘untimely’ Rath Yatra and display of the deity’s picture on the web site of an American online shopping outlet.

Samilanee Secretary, Harehrushna Mahasuar, said a number of foreigners under the cover of ISKCON were trying to enter the temple. “Though their passports showed they were Hindus, in reality they hailed from other religious groups,” he claimed.