Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha of misleading the public regarding the long-awaited inventory of Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar (treasury) in Puri’s Srimandir.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty made this accusation after Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that the inventory of the Puri temple’s treasury would commence only after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) assigns two of its experts for the process.
On the other hand, the Law Minister explained that the process of Lord’s treasury inventory has already started, with the state government having written a letter to the RBI authorities to engage two experts with relevant experience.
“The Lord’s valuables stored in a temporary strong room in the temple premises, now would be shifted to the Ratna Bhadar after completion of its repair and conservation works. As soon as the RBI provides its experts, we will go for the inventory,” the minister said as quoted by PTI.
The BJD leader, however, called it a state government’s delay tactic, stating there is uncertainty regarding the Ratna Bhandar inventory for the past year.
“Unfortunately, the Law Minister says that inventory will take more time even after repair of the Ratna Bhanadr,” Mohanty said.
The BJD leader specifically rejected the state government’s decision to involve the RBI in the inventory process. Mohanty questioned, “Has the help of the RBI ever been taken during the previous inventories? Is there a provision in the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, to take the help of the RBI during inventory? If not, for what reason is it being delayed in the name of the Reserve Bank?”
Further, Mohanty expressed concern over the safety of the Lord’s valuables, which have been stored in a temporary strong room for a year. “Now we have seen how some people trespassed into the temple premises in Puri by scaling the main boundary wall. The devotees of Lord Jagannath are worried over the safety of the valuables,” he said.
The BJD spokesperson urged the state government to start the inventory of valuables as soon as possible.
Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed repair work in the Ratna Bhandar.
The previous inventory of Lord’s valuables was made in 1978. The state’s BJP government opened the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar in July 2024 for repairs after 46 years for repair and inventory.
