[Watch] Subramanian Swamy Meets Puri Shankaracharya, To Take Up Heritage Corridor Issue With Odisha CM

Puri: Senior BJP leader and MP Subramanian Swamy on Friday said he would take up the issue of the heritage corridor in Odisha’s Puri town with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting with Puri Govardhan Peetha Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the BJP leader said he was aware of the controversy surrounding the heritage corridor. “Biju Babu was a close friend of mine. I also have good relations with Naveen. I will take up the issue and speak to Naveen,” he said.

He further said, “It is everybody’s responsibility to protect our temples, shrines and heritage monuments. The controversy (surrounding Jagannath temple in Puri) should end.”

He said that he was here to extend an invite to Shankaracharya to visit Kerala.

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Swamy’s meeting with the Shankaracharya holds significance in the wake of the latter’s criticism of the Odisha government on the heritage corridor issue two days back, the second time in a week. The seer had lambasted the government for the destruction of heritage in the name of development.

The Shankaracharya had also said Prime Minister and Odisha Chief Minister should pay attention to the fact that Puri is being distorted in the name of development.

He had clarified that he was not against development but did not support the complete destruction of the existing pilgrim sites. “An administration can only extend cooperation in affairs related to religious places but can’t take and execute decisions,” he had added.