Lingaraj Temple Land: BJP Intensifies Attack On Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: Politics over alleged grabbing of land belonging to Lingaraj Temple in Odisha’s capital has intensified with the opposition BJP staging protests in the city on Monday.

The BJP leaders and workers staged a protest at construction site and put up photos of Lord Lingaraj and flag on the said land. On Sunday, Khurda district administration stopped construction work on 1.150 acre land belonging to Lingaraj temple. They also covered up the construction site with mud and burnt the effigy of BJD Minister Ashok Panda in protest.

Launching a scathing attack on Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, the BJP alleged that Lord Lingaraj’s land are being usurped by party’s ministers.

Addressing mediapersons, state BJP spokesperson and general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said “It is clearly mentioned in the Endowment Commission Act that Lord Lingaraj’s land are non transferable and no one can buy those. Under what circumstances the land of Lingaraj were embezzled and who are the conspirators.”

Alleging the involvement of BJD MLA and Ekamra MLA Ashok Panda in the case, Samantsinghar said a road has been constructed on the disputed land from his MLA-LAD funds at Rs 18 lakh.

Stating that the protectors of Lord’s land are turning perpetrators, Samantsinghar demanded that Odisha government should immediately begin process to transfer the ownership of the contentious land to Lord Lingaraj.

Earlier in the day, BJP members led by Bhubaneswar district president Babu Singh, opposed the alleged sale of 228 decimals land close to the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA).

Alleging that the BJD is selling Lord Lingaraj’s land to mining mafia and contractors at throwaway prices, Singh claimed the party has proof of such illegal activities.

It may be mentioned that controversy broke out over the transfer of Lord’s land to the wife of a mining mafia, even as the Lingaraj Temple happens to be original owner of the land and State government has launched Ekamra development plan in the region.

According to reports, the land was recorded in favour of one Hrushikesh Das of Betanoti in Mayurbhanj district. Das is alleged to have sold the land to P Kiruthika, wife of B Prabhakaran (mining mafia) on November 6, 2021 for Rs 6.45 crore. Papers against the land was issued to Kiruthika in 15 days.

Reacting to the allegations, Panda said “The allegations regarding road construction from MLA-LAD funds are false and baseless.”

BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra said the Tehsildar and other revenue inspectors have stopped constructions on the land. “Had the government not wanted, the work would not have stopped,” said Mishra.

Work Stopped

Construction work on 1.150 acre land belonging to Lingaraj temple was stopped by Khurda district administration on Sunday following  the intervention of Revenue administration.

Bhubaneswar tehsildar Pradeep Sahu stopped construction on the land carried out by a private firm. It seized a container on the plot at Bhimpur mouza near the airport and put up a notice. Official sources maintained the land has been restored to its original owner (Lingaraj temple) and the subsequent mutation patta cancelled.

In September 2020, the then Revenue Secretary Bishnupada Sethi had directed the Khurda district collector to bring back the land owned by Lord Lingaraj to the temple’s land records. Sethi had also directed the collector to refer the matter on change in ownership of the “Debottar” land to the Crime Branch for an investigation.

Minister and local MLA, Ashok Chandra Panda, said the land owned by Lord Lingaraj will not be handed over to anyone. “The plot of land in question was earlier being occupied by a family of a servitor who was in charge of the temple treasury and performing puja,” said Panda. He added that action will be initiated if any irregularity is found in this matter.