Bhubaneswar: In a strong rebuttal to BJP’s claims that the Naveen Patnaik government demolished ancient mutts in Puri, BJD leader and 5T chairman V K Pandian on Thursday said that only illegal structures around and above Mangu Mutt were pulled down to preserve the sanctity of the place.
“The BJP leadership has been accusing BJD of destroying the heritage of Puri. The fact is that there were several shops, including those selling shoes, there. Above the garbha gruha of Mangu Mutt, there was a toilet too. Our chief minister removed all that and enhanced the sanctity of the mutt,” Pandian said in a video message.
He further stated that this is the mutt where Guru Nanak stayed during his trip to Puri.
“So, where is the problem?” Pandian asked, adding, “May Lord Jagannath bless them with wisdom.”
To drive the point home, old footages of the mutt with lodges, shops and houses were also shown in the video along with a clip of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi in which she can be heard alleging that the state government had demolished all mutts in Puri.
Also Read: V K Pandian & Not Naveen Patnaik Will Be The CM If BJD Is Voted To Power: Aparajita Sarangi
In the post on his instagram handle, he wrote: “For ages, mutts have had an organic connection with Jagannath culture. Over the years, a lot commercial establishments started growing around the mutts disrupting the blissful experience and connection with the Jagannatha temple. Our Hon’ble CM Naveen Patnaik Naveen Patnaik cleared up the unwanted establishments following due process. He restored the mutts and revived the organic link between Srimandir, mutts and devotees. History will remember him for this divine work. Mutts are now rejuvenated and can breathe afresh.”
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In May 2021, Aparajita, in an open letter to Naveen, had asked whether heritage development was being done by destroying it. “In the name of beautification, some of the most sacred ‘mutts’ of Puri, namely, Emar Mutt, Mangu Mutt, Languli Mutt, Uttar Parshwa Mutt and Dakshin Parshwa Mutt, have been demolished and razed to the ground. I believe that you are aware of the roles of the mutts in the development of the Jagannath cult and their role in many of the rituals associated with Lord Jagannath,” she wrote.
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