Bhubaneswar: Amid the raging controversy over alleged illegality in the implementation of the Puri Heritage Corridor Project, Odia actress Varsha Priyadarshini was trolled after she took a swipe at Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi for ‘opposing’ construction of facilities near the 12th-century Jagannath Temple.
In a series of tweets, the actress elaborated on problems being faced by women devotees in the absence of public toilets and accused her of being averse to development.
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I am an Odia girl, whenever I go to visit Puri Srimandir, I dont find public toilets for women nearby & I have also heard similar complaints from women Bhakts visitors as well. If Government is developing facilities for pilgrims in Puri, what is your @AprajitaSarangi problem?— VARSHA PRIYADARSHINI (@VarshaPriyadar3) April 4, 2022
“Please don’t do politics out of it. On one hand, Badrinath and Kashi Vishwanath are being developed, but you are opposing the development of facilities for pilgrims in the temple town of Puri and Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj area (sic),” she wrote on her unverified Twitter account.
“What is your problem, Aparajita Sarangi?” she further questioned.
Raising the issue in Parliament on April 4, Aparajita had said that the ongoing work should be stooped immediately as it violated the norms under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1959.
She further claimed that the Odisha government continued with the construction work in prohibited areas near the shrine despite the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) issuing a letter to stop work. “Illegal this is! Isn’t it time for all of us to SAVE OUR TEMPLE?” she tweeted along with the ASI’s letter dated February 5, 2022.
Aparajita stressed that she was not against development but all such activities need to be carried out following the law of the land.
Check reactions to Varsha’s tweet:
This is a very illogical argument I have ever seen! Somebody is arguing for toilets for women devotees by destroying heritage structures adjacent to Boundary wall of Lord Jagannath. Come on, toilets can be constructed anywhere nearby. It’s highly unfortunate.
— CA Bibek Nayak (@bibekanananda) April 5, 2022
Toilet is under construction for baraha madam and Pinaki sir👍👍👍 pic.twitter.com/YE9YScOgHU
— JAGAT JEEBAN JENA (@jagatjeebanbjp) April 6, 2022
Varsha mam I don’t know have you gone through all details about the issue or not .. bcz as per @AprajitaSarangi mam MP has clearly said that she is for development but AMASR norms should be adhered to for safety of shrine. Where she mentioned she has problem?@CMO_Odisha
— Sangram Mohanty (@Sangram51513359) April 5, 2022
Dear Varsha Ma’am,
Govt could have installed 10/15 mobile toilet near temple.
What’s the necessity to do huge excavation and construction by demolishing monuments?— OdiaToka (@Brajes_OdiaToka) April 4, 2022
The only problem: The women disciples will visit the temple only if Lord Jagannath is there. If digging work using heavy machinery continues, the temple may collapse any time. And you won’t find Lord Jagannath there.
— PKNanda (@PKNanda20) April 4, 2022
Madam Varsha please read carefully this notice .
In this notice clearly mentioned Excavation and construction totally prohibited in 200 meter surroundings that the measure concerned. pic.twitter.com/ksaqaEAwt8— Ramyak Routray (@RamyakRoutray) April 4, 2022
So u want toilet to be built by destroying a temple? There r so many hotels near by. Use their restrooms. I do that everytime I visit Orissa.
— SanataniStree (@_SanataniStree) April 5, 2022
Notably, Varsha had campaigned for the ruling BJD in the recent Municipal polls and there have been talks that the party would field her against Aparajita in the next general election in 2024.
