Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has asked the presidents and secretaries of all servitors’ bodies (Nijogas) to provide their views in writing regarding the controversial issues surrounding the Digha Jagannath temple. The response should reach the temple administrator (ritual) at the SJTA office by 5:00 PM on May 4.
The SJTA has called a meeting with all Nijoga presidents and secretaries tomorrow to discuss the Digha Jagannath temple and the controversies surrounding it.
The SJTA has also issued a notice to Daitapati Niyog secretary Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra. As per the Law Minister’s investigation order, the Srimandir Chief Administrator is likely to question him regarding his statement to Bengal TV channels about who had the key to the store room of the Nabakalebar wood and how much wood was there.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisa Nijog has strongly protested the term ‘Jagannath Dham-Digha’ used by the West Bengal government. The Nijoga has termed the consecration event at Digha as a political event rather than a religious one. The servitor body has also urged the State government to take steps for the withdrawal of the term Digha Jagannath Dham and to take legal action if needed.
The Nijog stated that the construction of idols using surplus Nabakalebar wood is not admissible. Since the store room of Nabakalebar wood was under the supervision of a particular Nijoga, the controversy arose. The SJTA should conduct an inquiry and punish the guilty as per rules, the Nijoga added.
