Odisha BJP MPs Demand Inclusion Of Puri & Konark Temples In Iconic Tourist List

Bhubaneswar: BJP MPs from Odisha have requested the Centre to include the Sun Temple in Konark and the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the list of the 17 iconic tourist sites for their comprehensive development.

In a letter to Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, the MPs have underlined the religious, spiritual and architectural significance of these sites as they sought the personal intervention of the Minister for inclusion in the list.

The letter comes against the backdrop of a state-wide uproar over non-inclusion of any tourist sites in the State by the Tourism Ministry.

The matter had come to light in the Budget Speech of the Finance Minister where Nirmala Sitharaman had announced budgetary allocation for development of the 17 identified iconic tourist sites.

“The matchless mix of heritage and spirituality makes the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Sun Temple in Konark truly iconic among India’s greatest tourist attraction places. The inclusion of these two places will be a moment of great pride for the people of Odisha,” the MPs said.

The signatories in the letter included Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and others such as Rajya Sabha member Ashwini Vaishnav, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and Kalahandi MP Basanta Kumar Panda.