Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly criticized the “double engine government” (implying the BJP-led state and union government) for allegedly misleading the public and causing delays in the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) census of the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple.
BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty expressed dismay at the Law Minister’s recent statement that the counting and mesauring of ornaments would take another three months, especially after a year of “uncertainty.”
He found the Law Minister’s justification of seeking Reserve Bank of India (RBI) assistance “unacceptable,” questioning whether such help was ever taken before or if the Shri Jagannath Temple Act allows for it. Dr. Mohanty suggested this as a pretext for further delay.
Furthermore, the BJD spokesperson alleged that valuable ornaments might have been moved from the Ratna Bhandar over the past year instead of a proper detailing out.
He highlighted recent public alarm caused by “some people entering through the fifth gate created by the garbage dump,” raising doubts among devotees about the safety of the gems outside the Ratna Bhandar.
Dr. Mohanty urged the state government to address these concerns transparently and avoid further politicization of the Ratna Bhandar estimation.
It’s worth noting that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently completed repair work on the Ratna Bhandar, and the state government has confirmed it will be requesting RBI officials to oversee the inventory process.
This comes after the treasury was unsealed in July 2024 for repairs, the first time in 46 years.