Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra has blamed the State government for the vandalism in the ‘Roshaghara’ or kitchen of Puri Jagannath temple.
Mohapatra has criticised the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri district administration for the vandalisation of as many as 43 earthen stoves in the temple kitchen.
Mohapatra has alleged that despite the SJTA and the district administration having knowledge about the disturbance between the sevayats in the Roshaghara two days back, no action was taken and such an incident happened.
The senior BJP leader has demanded that apart from action against those who have vandalized the earthen stoves, action should be taken against the SJTA and district administration as well.
Quoting from the Supreme Court judgment order of November 2019, Mohapatra said that the apex court had opined for the appointment of a single authority for security management in the temple premises.
He said that the State government was requested to appoint an officer of the rank of an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) who will be the Administrator of Security of the temple.
He felt that had security personnel been appointed such an incident would not have taken place in the Roshaghara.
He suspected that there was no security personnel on duty on that day.
Union Education Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan has tweeted that the incident has pained him since Mahaprabhu is the centre of faith and belief of the people of Odisha and Hindus the world over.
Pradhan has also said that the State government and the SJTA to take the incident seriously and take appropriate steps and remain alert so that such incidents are not repeated.
