Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jaya Narayan Mishra has demanded Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to declare January 22 as a public holiday in the State in view of inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Writing a letter to the CM, Shri Mishra said ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Prabhu Shri Ram along with the new grand Ram temple will be inaugurated on January 22 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This auspicious occasion of the great god of Hinduism, the whole nation is taking part in it and the occasion is also a matter of joy and great happiness for the people of Odisha, he said.
“….the whole nation is taking part in it. This occasion is also a matter of joy and great happiness for people of Odisha,” he wrote.
The LoP requested the Chief Minister to declare January 22 as a public holiday in the State so that all the devotees of Lord Ram will be able to be part of the big celebration.
Incidentally, the Chief Minister had declared January 17, the day on which the Sri Mandir Parikrama Project would be dedicated as a Government holiday in the State.
All Government offices, school and colleges would remain closed on January 17 to enable the devotees to participate in the programme and offer prayers to Lord Jagannath, considered as the lord of Universe.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati and local BJD leader Rabi Nanda have urged the State Government to shut down all the liquor shops and bars in Koraput district on the auspicious occasion on January 22.
On the auspicious days, several religious programmes will be held in Jeypore on the day to celebrate the moment. As the Ram Temple is going to be consecrated, he requested the State and district administration to close all the liquor shops else people will be a nuisance.
