Ratna Bhandar inventory in Aug
Responding to a question on the next step after ASI's conservation efforts, the minister said, 'The inventory of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar could be undertaken any time in August. The State government will soon write to the RBI, requesting it to deploy experts who have experience in auditing temple ornaments and treasures, such as at the Somnath Temple.' The minister informed that the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar was last opened in 1978 — 46 years ago — when the inventory of gold ornaments and other valuables was conducted. Since then, there has been a long-standing demand from the people of Odisha for a fresh inventory.
Fulfilling a major poll promise, the BJP-led State government recently constituted a high-level committee headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath to oversee the inventorisation of jewellery and other treasures stored in the Ratna Bhandar.
Harichandan said the State already possesses a record of the items listed in 1978 and that the upcoming stock-taking exercise will involve a thorough verification.
'We will match the current stock with the 1978 inventory to ensure accuracy. Experienced goldsmiths will be involved, and the process will include digital photography and cataloguing with details such as weight and make,' he said.
According to the 1978 inventory report, the Ratna Bhandar contains around 128 kg of gold and over 200 kg of silver, along with several ornaments that have gold coatings.
The minister also revealed that the State government plans to prepare a new set of gold and silver ornaments for the Trinity — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — for the Suna Besha ritual.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
9 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab ministers Cheema, Aman Arora booked over Bajwa's ‘doctored' video
The Cyber Crime Cell of Chandigarh Police on Friday registered a case against Punjab cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora on charges of defamation and criminal conspiracy for allegedly circulating a doctored video of Punjab leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. The Cyber Crime Cell of Chandigarh Police on Friday registered a case against Punjab cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora on charges of defamation and criminal conspiracy for allegedly circulating a doctored video of Punjab leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. Bajwa, in his complaint, alleged that his original video of 3.48 minutes was edited and doctored in such a way by the ministers that it showed his support for arrested SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The FIR has been registered under Sections 336 (4) (forgery), 356 (criminal defamation) and 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FIR also mentions an unidentified media handler of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and the admins of AAP Punjab's social media accounts on X and Facebook as the accused. Bajwa's complaint further states that the two ministers circulated a doctored video to malign his image and misrepresent his political stance. 'I frequently raise my voice against the illegalities and excesses committed by the AAP-led Punjab government. AAP leaders and media associates conspired to circulate a doctored video,' he said. Reacting to the arrest of Bikram Singh Majithia by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Bajwa had questioned officers conduct after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader's wife MLA Ganieve Kaur had alleged that the VB sleuths 'unlawfully' entered her private residence. Bajwa had called the alleged conduct by the officers 'an unacceptable and illegal intrusion' into a woman's legislator's private space. In his complaint, Bajwa stated that he had posted a video on June 25, on his official X handle criticising the vigilance bureau's treatment of MLA Kaur, and drew parallels with a similar case involving Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Bajwa alleged that the AAP's Punjab social media team, however, edited the video to remove references to Kaur and even removed her status as a legislator. The altered video falsely portrayed that he was defending Majithia, an accused in the case, he said. Bajwa said the video was widely circulated by senior AAP leaders. He named finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema and minister for new and renewable energy sources, housing and urban development Aman Arora, alleging that they shared the edited clip via their official Facebook accounts and the party's social media pages. Bajwa said the video was intentionally propagated to damage his reputation and that of the Congress party. 'I was defamed, maligned, and falsely shown as supporting individuals under prosecution, supporting violators of law whereas my actual concern was pertaining to the manner of arrest and conduct of Punjab Vigilance Bureau was concealed and edited,' Bajwa said in his statement to the cyber cell of the UT police.' Reacting to FIR, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said Bajwa has registered a 'false' case. 'The people have come to see the true character of the Congress party. Bajwa being hand-in-glove with the BJP had got a cybercrime FIR registered against the AAP in Chandigarh. We are not scared of FIRs. We welcome this FIR. This has only exposed their links,' Cheema claimed.
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
War of words erupts on X between Surjewala and Amit Malviya over Karnataka CM post: 'Perversity knows no extremes'
A fierce political exchange unfolded on Friday between BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala over the recent visit of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar to Delhi. The war of words played out on social media, with both leaders accusing each other's parties of misleading the public and failing Karnataka. Randeep Singh Surjewala and Amit Malviya Also Read - 'Hardliners are spoiling the image': Bengaluru man's X post on regional harmony sparks nationwide debate Take a look at the political exchange Amit Malviya alleged in a post on X that Siddaramaiah had been 'humiliated' in the national capital after being denied an appointment with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Claiming that the chief minister had returned empty-handed, Malviya suggested that Siddaramaiah's political authority was being undermined. He likened the episode to the sacking of former Karnataka CM Veerendra Patil by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, calling it a 'historic insult' to a state leader. Malviya further alleged that Siddaramaiah was now politically cornered and 'forced to hide behind the very man plotting against him, D K Shivakumar,' hinting at internal rivalry within the state Congress. Responding sharply, Randeep Surjewala hit back at Malviya, accusing him of spreading lies and distorting facts. In a counter post, he dismissed Malviya as a 'bizarre whacko' and said the BJP was using distractions to hide its own internal crisis in Karnataka. Surjewala clarified that the visit by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar was not political in nature, but intended to raise Karnataka's long-pending demands with the Union government. Also Read - No NICE Road toll hike? Karnataka says company revised rates without approval He accused the Centre of neglecting Karnataka and displaying what he called 'inimical hatred' towards the state. Surjewala said the Modi government had failed to address key issues related to water sharing, irrigation, and financial dues. He claimed the state was still waiting for central clearances for major projects such as Upper Bhadra, Yettinahole, Kalasa-Banduri and Mekedatu, and added that the Centre had refused to notify the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2. He also alleged that ₹1.87 lakh crore due to Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission had not been released, and that repeated appeals for funds from the National Disaster Response Fund had gone unanswered.
New Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Will Raja Singh resign as MLA too and join another party?
HYDERABAD: BJP national president JP Nadda accepted Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh's resignation on Friday. The lone BJP MLA in the GHMC limits, Raja Singh had tendered his resignation on June 30, openly opposing the appointment of N Ramchander Rao as president of the party's state unit. Now, the key questions that are being raised are: Will Raja Singh also resign as MLA and join another political party or set up a new outfit of his own? He had previously said that he intends to continue to fight for Hindu causes, which is fuelling the questions about how he would move forward. Raja Singh's supporters indicate that he may join the Shiv Sena or another regional party with a Hindu identity. Raja Singh, who initially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Telugu Desam Party, began his political career as a corporator before officially donning saffron robes in 2013. He was first elected as an MLA from Goshamahal in 2014 and subsequently re-elected in 2018 and 2023. However, his journey has been tumultuous — he was suspended from the party in 2022 over his controversial remarks and violation of the party's code of discipline, only to have his suspension revoked later, which allowed him to contest and win the election for the third time in 2023. Amid a series of incidents and targeted criticisms against the state leadership and senior BJP figures, the party formally accepted his resignation on Friday.
