Enigmatic Variations 1256

[Neveracrossword]

5 D. 'Pipe up', one's originally told worshipper (6) TA????

21 D. Where intelligence department is ignored by head of state (7)
?RES??T
(I keep seeing Present, which could involve President, head of state, but I don't know how else it fits.)

NB. Some clues 'contain a letter that must be removed before soling'.

[Toorak]

President minus Id (intelligence department) gives present

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, I should have got that!

[Toorak]

Taoist

Oat (type of pipe) reversed + is + t(old)

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks again, Toorak, that's perfect.

[Neveracrossword]

I've only a couple left to get.

16 A. Prayer missing on South American Indian statue (6)
?RI?S?

There may be 'a letter that must be removed before soling'.

[Neveracrossword]

...Soling should be 'solving'.

[hankir]

Orissa is an India state.

[hankir]

I should have said:

Oris(on) + SA , U is extra.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Hankir.