BJP Team To Meet Puri Gajapati Over Ratna Bhandar Of Jagannath Temple

Bhubaneswar: Mounting a stinging attack on Odisha government for not taking steps for opening the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said a party delegation will soon meet Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb over the issue.

BJP’s former Odisha unit president Samir Mohanty told reporters in Bhubaneswar that despite the High Court’s order, the state government is yet to form a high-level committee for opening the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple.

The state government should explain as to why it is not constituting the committee, he said.

The BJP leader said that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) seems to have shifted its focus on introducing a dress code for devotees visiting the 12th-century shrine, while ignoring the Ratna Bhandar issue.

Mohanty expressed apprehension over the safety of precious jewelleries and ornaments stored in the Ratna Bhandar.

He said the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee had on August 4, 2023 passed a resolution for the formation of a committee to open the Ratna Bhandar. The State government and the High Court were also informed about it.

On September 29, the High Court also ordered the formation of a high-level committee, Mohanty said.

Hitting out at the state government for not forming the high-level committee, Mohanty said the BJP wants a committee comprising former Chief Justice Deepak Mishra and GB Mishra to be formed for the purpose.

Noting that the Ratna Bandar was opened and an inventory of ornaments was made 45 years ago, the BJP leader said that the people of Odisha want it to be opened at the earliest. Puri Gajapati  has often stressed the need for opening the Ratna Bhandar and a BJP delegation will soon meet the Gajapati and hold discussion with him on the issue, he added.