Bengal Polls Next Year, Digha Jagannath Temple Trinamool's Hindu Outreach
Quick Take
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
A replica of Puri's Jagannath temple, built at a cost of Rs 250 crore in Bengal's Digha, was consecrated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today. The temple aims to boost tourism and counter BJP's "appeasement policy" criticism.
Kolkata:
The replica of Puri Jagannath temple, built at a cost of Rs 250 crore in Bengal's seaside town of Digha, was consecrated today, marking Mamata Banerjee's outreach to the Hindus. The inauguration of the temple took place yesterday and today, the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya was reserved for the consecration of the idols.
Ms Banerjee's government, in a reprisal of the BJP's Ayodhya temple inauguration, had set up huge screens across the state to live telecast the ceremony, which started at 2.30 pm.
"You must see this (religion) from the heart. Religion cannot be preached by word of mouth. It is what touches the heart. Religion is people's trust, belief and love," the Chief Minister told reporters a day ahead of the yagna ceremony, in which she is taking part.
Ms Banerjee already donates huge funds during Durga Puja to puja committees and has undertaken multiple temple renovation projects.
But that has not been enough to counter the appeasement politics allegation of the BJP, especially in view of the money her government donates to mosques and madarasas. Bengal has 27 per cent Muslims.
The inauguration of this temple ahead of next year's election, is seen as a major effort of the ruling Trinamool Congress to reach out to the Hindus ahead of next year's state election, in which the BJP is hoping to unseat the Mamata Banerjee government.
Today, the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari ripped into the state government with a reminder of the recent violence in Murshidabad during the passage of the Waqf bill in parliament.
"Mamata Banerjee is solely responsible for that genocide. It is a government sponsored genocide. The entire government, the fire brigade, police, the fire minister, all ministers and also their high leader have killed everyone. So far 15 deaths have been declared. it will go till 25," he said.
The state government has said it is hoping that the temple would make the seaside town - already a popular tourist spot - "an international destination of tourism".
Ms Banerjee said the temple will be the pride of Bengal and the country.
"It has beautiful architecture. Servitors from Jagannath temple in Puri and priests and monks from various other temples and organisations, including Dakshineshwar Kali Temple and ISKCON, have come," she had told reporters ahead of the inauguration.
The red sandstone temple, a replica of the 12th-Century shrine in Puri, is built over 24 acres of land located in Digha, a popular beach destination 200 km southeast of Kolkata.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Twist in UP politics: Swami Prasad Maurya launches bloc, names himself CM candidate
Former minister and a prominent OBC face in Uttar Pradesh politics, Swami Prasad Maurya on Thursday announced the launch of a new political front - Lok Morcha - comprising nine small parties. Addressing a press conference, Maurya declared himself as the chief ministerial candidate of the Morcha. 'We will launch a campaign for the 2027 assembly election with the slogan - UP Bachao - BJP Hatao (Save UP - Remove BJP from power). The parties that joined Lok Morcha include Apni Janata Party led by Swami Prasad Maurya, Rashtriya Samanta Dal led by Motilal Shastri, Samyak Party led by Rajamani Suvvaiya Rai, Janseva Dal led by Vinesh Thakur, Political Justice Party led by Rajesh Siddharth, Sarvlokhit Samaj Party led by Satya Narayan Maurya, Swatantra Janata Raj Party led by Ghanshyam Kori, Sabka Dal-U led by Pramod Lodhi and Loktantra Suraksha Party led by Rajkumar Saini. Majority of the parties forming the Lok Morcha are led by leaders from backward communities. Maurya said the Lok Morcha will launch a movement across UP on public issues. From Friday, the leaders of the Morcha will organise meetings in the various districts of Lucknow division to enlighten people about the programme and ideology of the Morcha. The representation of the various castes in the party organisation will be given according to their population- 'jiski jitni sankha bhari- uski utni hissedari' will be our slogan to win the support of various castes, he said. Launching a scathing attack on the state government, Murya said that law and order has deteriorated, reservation is not implemented in hiring staff through outsourcing, the price of the essential commodities has skyrocketed, education has been privatised and children coming from poor families are deprived of education, the farmers are exploited and the Muslim community is terrorised, he said. The Lok Morcha will raise a demand for polling through ballot papers in assembly and Lok Sabha elections, he said. Once a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, Maurya was minister in the BSP government - 2007-12. On August 8, 2016 he joined the BJP along with his supporters. He was given a ticket from his traditional seat Padrauna in the 2017 assembly election, Maurya represented Padrauna seat in the assembly in 2009 by poll and 2012 assembly election as well. He won the seat again in the 2017 assembly election and was made minister in the BJP government. He rose in rebellion before the 2022 assembly election and joined the Samajwadi Party. He contested assembly election from Fazilnagar seat but was defeated by the BJP candidate. Later, in February 2024 he quit the Samajwadi Party.
Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Vijay Rupani family: All on wife Anjali Rupani and their children
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed on the ill-fated Air India plane that crashed near Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London crashed in a fireball just minutes after takeoff. There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard at the time of the horrific accident. Amid the ongoing search and rescue operations, Union minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil confirmed the 68-year-old's death. 'Our leader and former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, was going (to London) to meet his family. He is also a victim inf this incident. May his soul rest in peace. This is a big loss for the BJP,' Patil told reporters, per PTI. Earlier, aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu had confirmed that Rupani was onboard the flight, saying, 'Very sad to know that Vijay Rupani ji was also there, other nationals, and children were also there. Each and every life is precious. It's an incident which has shaken the nation.' While there is no official confirmation about Rupani's travel plans, sources close to his family told News18 that he was travelling to London to bring back his wife, Anjali Rupani, who is a member of the BJP women's wing. She has reportedly been staying overseas for the past six months. In addition to his wife, Rupani is survived by their two children — son Rushabh and daughter Radhika. The couple had previously lost their youngest son, Pujit in a car accident. In his memory, the Rupanis established the Pujit Rupani Memorial Trust, which helps underprivileged child with their academics among other needs.
The Hindu
37 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Govt. neglecting farmers, no info on extent of loans: BJP
The BJP has accused the Congress Government of neglecting farmers and pushing them into misery despite the new agriculture season commencing early this year. At a press conference at the BJP office here on Thursday, Deputy Floor leader in the Assembly, Payal Shankar, said that there is no official information about the extent of loans sanctioned by banks this season and how much has been disbursed so far. 'Many farmers are unable to go for fresh loans due to the 'half-baked' loan waiver scheme, with no clarity on those who had taken more than ₹2 lakh loan,' he said. The BJP MLA said that despite Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy assuring to join the PM's farm insurance scheme, ignored by BRS Government, there has been no forward movement with not a single paisa released so far. Why not CBI? With regard to the ongoing Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project probe, Mr. Shankar questioned why the Government has been reluctant to hand over the case to the CBI considering that there are allegations of money laundering in the case. The irrigation project has been 'corruption ridden' from Day One to the last day with allegations in every aspect of the construction, he maintained, and asked why the Government has been dilly-dallying about implementing the recommendations of the NDSA. 'Don't criticise Kishan' He advised Mr. Revanth Reddy to desist from criticising party president and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy claiming that the latter has already ensured Telangana got sufficient funds and has been striving for more. The party has won eight MP and eight MLA seats besides bagging two MLC seats which indicates the support of the people, he said. The unfounded criticism directed against Mr. Kishan Reddy could also be a ruse to divert people's attention from the ruling party's failure to implement election promises.
