Bhubaneswar: At a time when the first meeting of the newly-formed high-level committee to supervise the reopening of Ratna Bhandar at Puri’s Jagannath temple for repair and inventory of valuables is currently underway, Shankaracharya of Puri Govardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati feigned his ignorance about the formation of the committee.
According to sources, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Saturday reached the pilgrim city to be part of the grand Rath Yatra. Following his arrival at the Holy City, he was mobbed by mediapersons and asked to give his comment on the newly-formed committee to take decisions pertaining to Ratna Bhandar. It was when the spiritual guru feigned his ignorance about the committee.
Talking to the media, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati replied “I have no idea about the committee and why it has been formed. Nobody contacted me to take my views on the formation of the committee. As I have no idea about the committee, I have nothing to say in this regard.”
He further said, “No meetings held during my presence. As per the Supreme Court’s judgement, the state government should take the views of Shankaracharya of Puri Govardhan Peetha when it is related to the Jagannath Temple.”
