BJD Flays Dharmendra For Comparing Chhera Panhara With Swachh Bharat

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD has criticized senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan for comparing Chhera Panhara of Lord Jagannath with the Swachh Bharat programme of the Centre.

Criticising the Union Minister’s comment on the social media, BJD leader and Health Minister Pratap Jena termed the comparison as an insult to the Jagannath cult.

“The Union Minister has made such an offensive remark without understanding the Jagannath culture. He should tender an unconditional apology to the people of Odisha,” he said.

Reply to Jena’s statement, Dharmendra said that the BJD should not try to divert the attention of the people from the real issue of the missing Ratna Bhandar keys.

“The report on the missing Ratna Bhandar keys has appeared in the foreign media. Besides, doubts have been raised in the minds of the people on this issue. The BJD should mind its own business as people don’t need its permission on how they should worship the Lords. With these statements, the party is trying to cover up its gross inaction,” he maintained.