On his visit to Odisha on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed prayers at the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri and escalated his attack against the BJD party, raising the issue of the missing keys to the 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasure room) and directly targeting the ruling BJD government. PM Modi questioned the integrity of the 12th-century temple's security under the BJD administration.
Addressing a rally in Angul, PM Modi remarked that the Jagannath Temple is not secure under the BJD rule. 'The keys to the 'Ratna Bhandar' have been missing for the last six years. Voting will also take place in Puri on 25th May, alongside the capital city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha,' he stated.
The Ratna Bhandar holds deep reverence among the people
Lord Jagannath is the most venerated deity in Odisha, and the 'Ratna Bhandar' of the Jagannath Temple holds profound reverence among the locals. Situated in the cellar of the temple, the 'Ratna Bhandar' houses precious ornaments gifted by devotees and former kings to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra over centuries. It was last opened on 14th July 1985.
In 2018, the Odisha High Court had directed the government to open the chamber for inspection. However, the keys to the chamber could not be found, causing widespread discontent throughout the state.
PM Modi also led a roadshow in Puri, tweeting, 'Prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Puri. May his blessings always remain with us and lead us to new heights of progress.' He then embarked on a two-kilometer-long roadshow from Marchikote Chawk to Medical Square, alongside BJP's Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra and state president Manmohan Samal.
Previously, PM Modi had highlighted the issue of the 'Ratna Bhandar's security during a rally on 11th May. He also claimed that the Odia identity and language were under threat, which was perceived as a direct assault on Naveen Patnaik. The opposition has frequently accused Patnaik of not only failing to learn Odia but also being ignorant of the state's culture.
This is PM Modi's second visit to Odisha in the last 10 days, occurring at a time when BJP and BJD have witnessed heightened confrontations. Despite earlier speculations of a coalition between BJP and BJD for the elections in Odisha, discussions did not materialize, leading to increased tensions between the two parties.
In 2009, the alliance between BJP and BJD had dissolved. Previously, both parties had governed Odisha together for 9 years. PM Modi initially refrained from criticizing the BJD government but has now launched direct attacks on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his rallies.
'The Jagannath Temple is even insecure under the BJD government. For the past six years, the keys to Shri Ratna Bhandar are missing. Behind this, a significant secret is being hidden by people close to the BJD government and the Chief Minister. The entire Odisha wishes to know what the investigation report, which BJD has suppressed, contains,' PM Modi declared.
Modi's government has introduced the Van Dhan scheme for tribal families, where forest produce is purchased at MSP through over 3,500 Van Dhan centres across the country, including nearly 200 centres in Odisha.
'Odisha in the 21st century requires a pace of development that no BJD government can provide. You have given BJD the opportunity for the entire first part of this century. Now is the time to reject BJD's lackadaisical policies, work, and slow progress, choosing BJP's rapid governance instead,' addressed PM Modi, affirming that a BJP-led 'double engine government' will be sworn in on 10th June in Odisha, as the BJD government's departure is imminent.
'Development and heritage are on BJP's agenda. When the G20 summit happened in Delhi, we positioned leaders from across the globe in front of the Konark Chakra for a photo, thereby enhancing Odisha's pride. After placing trust in BJD for 25 years, the entirety of Odisha is reflecting on what BJD has offered them,' he added.
