Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has accused the ruling BJP in Odisha of misleading the public regarding the long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar at the Srimandir in Puri.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty expressed these concerns following comments from Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, who stated that the inventory process would commence once the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) assigns two experts to assist.
Contrarily, the minister claimed that the inventory work had already started, with the state government reaching out to the RBI to secure the necessary expertise.
According to the minister, the valuables currently housed in a temporary strong room on the temple grounds will be transferred to the Ratna Bhandar once restoration and conservation efforts are finalized. He assured that the inventory would proceed promptly upon receiving the RBI's experts.
However, Mohanty criticized this as a 'delay tactic,' highlighting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Ratna Bhandar inventory for over a year.
He pointed out that the Law Minister's remarks suggest further delays, even after the Ratna Bhandar's repairs are completed.
The BJD leader questioned the necessity of involving the RBI in this process, asking if such assistance had ever been sought during past inventories.
He also referenced the Shri Jagannath Temple Act of 1955, questioning the legal basis for this delay attributed to the RBI.
Mohanty expressed concerns over the safety of the Lord's valuables, which have been stored in a temporary strong room for a year, especially after recent incidents of trespassing at the temple.
He urged the government to initiate the inventory of the valuables without further delay.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently completed repair work on the Ratna Bhandar, which had not been accessed for inventory since 1978.
The state government reopened the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar in July 2024, after a 46-year closure for repairs and inventory.
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