Odisha threatens Bengal with legal action over ‘Jagannath Dham' issue
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Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Monday threatened Bengal with legal action over naming of West Bengal's
Digha Jagannath temple
as 'Jagannath Dham', as a festering relationship between the two neighbours worsened.
The ongoing controversy has escalated into a BJP versus TMC battle with Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee describing the temple as 'Jagannath Dham' publicly and describing its criticism as selective BJP outrage.
This is not the first time the two states have locked horns as allegations and counter-allegations over attacks on Bengali migrants in Odisha and Bengal stopping potato supplies, triggering a crisis in Odisha, affected their relationship.
Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said dhams can be associated with only four holy places, Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri (Jagannath), and Rameswaram.
"The Digha issue has created anguish among devotees everywhere. Odisha will also ask Bengal to stop calling the beach near Digha temple as Mahodadhi, which describes the beach in Puri," Harichandan said.
The controversy has sparked social media campaigns calling for #BoycottPuri and #BoycottOdisha, leading to heated exchanges between protesters and Odisha residents across various platforms.
Joining the issue, Puri scion Gajapati Dibbyasingha Deb, who is considered first and foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath, took strong exception to the description of the new shrine as 'Jagannath Dham', saying the name can't be used for any place other than Puri.
The Puri scion in a statement said 'Jagannath Dham' besides Purusottama Kshetra, Shreekshetra and Neelachala Dham refer only to Puri, the eternal abode of the Supreme Lord, and can't be used to refer to any other place. Deb cited the opinion of Muktimandapa Pandit Sabha, the top council of scholars in Puri temple, and proclamations in sacred scriptures, to prove his point while urging authorities of Digha temple "to desist from calling it Jagannath Dham."
According to Deb, "Temples of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath around the world should honour and uphold the glorious heritage of Lord Jagannath." Disrespect to traditions and heritage will hurt religious sentiments of countless devotees around the world, he added.
Earlier, speaking at a public meeting in violence-hit Murshidabad, the Bengal CM said, "When Mamata Banerjee gets skywalks built in Dakshineswar temple, no one questions. When Mamata Banerjee performs Durga puja and Kali puja, no one objects. Then why is there so much animosity regarding Jagannath Dham?"
She added, "Why is there so much jealousy about Jagannath Dham? When you face shortage of potato, Bengal provides. I love Odisha. When a cyclone hits Odisha, damages power infrastructure, we send our engineers to help out. Bengal sends maximum tourists to Odisha, they go to Puri throughout the year, attends Rath Yatra. If we have built a Jagannath Dham, why are you against the idea?"
Referring to alleged assault of Bengalis in Odisha recently, which has been dismissed by the Odisha govt, Mamata said, "Why are you people assaulting Bengalis? I have heard that people are being assaulted if they speak in Bengali."
In response to the dispute, the Odisha govt also announced it would introduce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all Jagannath shrines outside Puri. The guidelines will also address the roles of Puri temple servitors after some reportedly defied tradition by participating in the Digha temple's consecration ceremony. The govt had earlier decided to send a letter to Mamata to drop using the term 'Dham' for the Digha shrine.
TMC MP Yusuf Pathan's claim about 20,000 Bengali workers fleeing Odisha due to alleged assaults was strongly refuted by Odisha revenue minister Suresh Pujari, who advised the former cricketer to "stick to cricket commentary". While Pathan wrote to home minister Amit Shah about "brutal attacks" on workers from Berhampore and Murshidabad, Odisha police reported no such complaints.
Last year, relationship between the states soured when West Bengal's potato export ban triggered a crisis in Odisha, forcing prices to surge to Rs 55-60 per kg. The situation led to protests and blockades of vehicles carrying essential goods to West Bengal, compelling Odisha to source potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
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