Govt Not Certain About Missing Ratna Bhandar Key Of Puri Jagannath Temple, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: Even as the BJP has filed a PIL in Orissa High Court seeking its intervention in reopening the Ratna Bhandar (treasury room) in Jagannath temple at Puri, a minister said it has not been ascertained whether its key is missing or not.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, Law Minister Jagannath Saraka said he did not know whether the Ratna Bhandar key was missing or not.

“We cannot confirm anything about the key. The case is under consideration of the Orissa High Court. The government will take appropriate steps as per the direction of the High Court,” he said.

Terming the comment of the minister as unfortunate the BJP said it clearly showed the government’s reluctance to open the Ratna Bhandar.

“The minister should know that they had gone to open the Ratna Bhandar on the High Court’s order earlier but did not returned from doing so. They should reveal its reason and open the deities’ treasury,” said former Odisha president of BJP Samir Mohanty.

It may be noted that Mohanty has filed a PIL at the High Court seeking its direction to the government to open the Ratna Bhandar to carry out necessary repair works and conducting a fresh inventory of the ornaments of the deities stored there since long.

Last month Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb had told the media that the Ratna Bhandar was in bad shape as cracks had developed in its inner wall and rainwater was seeping through those.

Also Read: BJP Leader Samir Mohanty Files PIL In Orissa HC For Opening Ratna Bhandar Of Jagannath Temple In Puri