Odisha: BJP stir over missing Ratna Bhandar keys from June 11

PURI: The BJP on Friday hit out at the State Government over the missing keys of Shri Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar and announced to launch an agitation on the issue from June 11.
Informing this, State BJP president Basant Panda said as part of the State-wide strike called ‘Jana Jagaran Yatra’, party activists would demonstrate in all sub-divisions on June 11 and lodge complaints against the temple administration at all police stations on June 12.

The BJP leaders flayed the appointment of judicial commission by the Government to probe into the incident and alleged that it was an act to divert the attention of public from the issue. The loss of key was an attempt to loot the temple treasury which is great sin. Earlier, four commissions were set up over different issues, but their recommendations were not implemented and even ‘Brahma Parivartan’ fiasco report is yet to be made public, they said.

The leaders also alleged that the State Government has failed to protect the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath. The loss of temple treasury keys has shocked devotees across the State. Though the issue came to the knowledge of the temple administration two months ago, why a complaint was not lodged with the police till date, they questioned.

Earlier, the BJP leaders visited the temple, offered prayers and interacted with some servitors. They also met Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth in Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati at the mutt. Among others, BJP leaders Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, Pitambar Acharya, Bhrugu Buxipatra, Prithviraj Harichandan, Sameer Mohanty, Pravati Parida, Pratap Sarangi and district president Pravanjan Mahapatra were present.