Digha Jagannath temple: Rituals underway before Akshaya Tritiya inauguration; Opposition BJP raises questions on construction quality, temple management
Days before the scheduled inauguration of the Jagannath temple in beach town Digha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday sounded hopeful about the impact of the newly constructed temple.
CM Banerjee said, 'The arrival of Lord Jagannath in Bengal is a moment of great spiritual significance. May His blessings bring peace, harmony, and prosperity, not only to the people of our state but to the nation as a whole.'
The 213-foot-tall temple, built in the Kalingan architectural style using sandstone, is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, Goddesses Mahalaxmi, and Subhadra. It is set to be inaugurated by CM Banerjee on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday. The temple is expected to become a significant tourist and pilgrimage destination, enhancing both the spiritual and economic value of the coastal town of Digha.
The rituals leading up to the 'Pran Pratistha' have commenced, with a 'Kalash Yatra' performed by devotees on Saturday.
Banerjee shared her sentiments on social media, saying, 'It is our faith that teaches us to stand tall through hardships, shapes our spirit, roots us in humility, and reminds us that even in our frailty, we are infinite. The Jagannath Temple in Digha will soon open its doors, welcoming not only the people of Bengal but pilgrims from across India. The countdown has begun, with rituals being performed each day. May this temple serve as a sanctuary of hope, peace, and unity for generations to come.'
However, the scheduled inauguration has sparked political controversy. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Bengal Assembly, has raised concerns regarding the temple's construction quality and management.
In a post on X, Adhikari tagged Dr H K Dwivedi (IAS Retd), Vice Chairman, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) Ltd, and questioned the official designation of the temple site as 'Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra' (cultural centre).
'What will happen to the donations made by the devotees in the future? Will it be considered as 'Temple property' or HIDCO's source of income from the Cultural Center?' posted Adhikari.
The temple project, announced in 2019, commenced construction in May 2022 under HIDCO's supervision.
BJP 's Amit Malviya also alleged corruption and political motives behind the construction of the temple, citing recent thunderstorm damage as a potential 'divine intervention' and accused the government of misleading Hindus for political gain.
'A devastating Kalbaisakhi (nor'wester) wreaked havoc in Digha on April 26, 2025 – just days before the inauguration of Mamata Banerjee's Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. As the storm raged, a light gate collapsed on a toto, with the driver narrowly escaping. Worse, the temple's iron gate crumbled, seriously injuring a passerby. Is this merely nature's fury – or divine intervention?' he wrote.
'Prabhu Jagannath does not reside where falsehood, fraud, and selfishness reign. This Kalbaisakhi was not just a storm – it was His message,' added Malviya.
The West Bengal government has invited Opposition leaders, including LoP Adhikari, former BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, and his newly wed wife Rinku Mazumdar, for the inauguration ceremony.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Mamata Banerjee's trusted aide, a lightning rod for controversies: Why Firhad Hakim is again receiving brickbats
He is one of Mamata Banerjee's trusted leaders, but Firhad Hakim often leaves his leader and party in a spot of bother with his comments. Affectionately known as 'Bobby da' in the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Hakim, who triggered a row a few months ago by saying that Muslism would one day 'become a bigger majority than what the current majority population is', hasstirred the pot again with his comments targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor. The four-time MLA sparked outrage on Saturday after he questioned the success of Operation and claimed that Modi had halted military action against Pakistan as he feared a 'big nation' would label him 'kapurush (coward)'. The BJP was quick to latch on to the remarks, with the party's state chief, Sukanta Majundar, saying that Hakim's criticism stemmed from 'an inability to digest such an operation', especially due to the lack of such actions during the UPA era. Hakim's political rise has been meteoric. Born in a family that traces its ancestry to Gaya in Bihar, the 66-year-old began his political career in the late 1990s as a councillor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and, in 2021, became the first Muslim to occupy the post of Kolkata Mayor since Independence. He first entered the Assembly in 2009 after winning the Alipore bypoll. He then successfully contested the 2011 Assembly polls from Kolkata Port, a seat he has retained since then. His influence in the port area is so extensive that he is considered to have the final word there. After the exit of Mukul Roy in 2017 and the arrest of former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in 2022 in connection with the alleged teacher recruitment scam, Hakim is said to have solidified his position as one of Banerjee's trusted lieutenants. Since the TMC first came to power in 2011, he has been a part of her Cabinet and held important portfolios such as Urban Development and Municipal Affairs. He also serves as the Chairman of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Hakim is also known to organise one of Kolkata's most popular Durga Pujas, in his neighbourhood of Chetla, where Banerjee is a regular visitor. List of controversies Hakim's latest remarks are the latest in a long list of controversial comments that he has made in his two-decade political career, sometimes even leaving his own party red-faced. In 2016, Hakim, in an interview with Pakistani daily Dawn, referred to his constituency as 'mini-Pakistan'. However, he maintained that his comments were not accurately reported. The same year, Hakim's name popped up in the Narada sting operation after he was allegedly seen accepting bribes on video. The following year, the CBI questioned him in connection with the case and arrested him after the 2021 Assembly polls. The TMC leader received bail from the Calcutta High Court in the case in May 2021. In 2023, the CBI raided Hakim's house in connection with alleged irregularities in KMC recruitment, prompting him to accuse the BJP of 'using central agencies to harass him over his refusal to bow down before them'. Last November, Hakim was forced to apologise after he faced sharp criticism for his alleged derogatory remarks about the BJP's Haroa bypoll candidate Rekha Patra, an alleged sexual harassment victim from Sandeshkhali. The following month, he claimed that Muslims did not consider themselves a minority. 'We believe that with the blessings of the Almighty, one day we will become a bigger majority than what the current majority population is,' he said, reportedly even leaving Banerjee upset. The comment led to the TMC distancing itself from Hakim and saying that his remarks 'do not reflect the party's position or ideology'. Seen by many as an 'one-man army' in the port area, which comprises areas such as Khiderpore and Metiabruz, Hakim's propensity to get into controversies has failed to diminish his stature within the TMC as its powerful minority face and key strategist.
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
CM Mamata Banerjee's election strategy based on 'appeasement politics', says BJP's Sukanta
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 9 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MP Sukanta Majumdar, on Monday, launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her entire electoral strategy is rooted in 'appeasement politics.' In a post on X, Majumdar claimed that Banerjee's political roadmap is centred around two parallel tactics: 'relentless Muslim appeasement' and the 'continuous oppression' of Bengali Hindus. 'The entire game plan of West Bengal's authoritarian Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to win elections rests on one & only strategy,' appeasement politics'. On one side, relentless Muslim appeasement; on the other, continuous oppression of Bengali Hindus and systematic religious persecution all with the sole aim of turning Hindus into a minority and clinging to power at any cost,' he wrote. The post added on X, 'This is the desperate struggle of a failed Chief Minister! Today, the people of Bengal have only one resolve -- to make West Bengal a livable land for Bengali Hindus once again.' The video in the post said, 'We are like two flowers on the same stem - Hindu and Muslim' but now. In today's Bengal, it's only the Muslims who are cherished, while the Hindus are the neglected ones. One flower is being appeased, while the other is being consistently exploited. This is Mamata Banerjee's core political strategy to win elections. Soon, Hindus will become a minority in Bengal. This is the grim future awaiting Bengal's Sanatanis. In Siliguri, communal harmony was shattered by the Chief Minister's pampered vote-bank pawns. Yet, the crackdown selectively targeted Hindus; even violent attacks were unleashed. When people raised slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram' in protest, even the police, acting like party lackeys, were seen issuing threats. A police officer was seen threatening a crowd, 'Keep chanting for now, The real action will be taken at night. Okay? Dare to Say 'Jai Shree Ram' with me at night.' How outrageous is that? Without a trace of fear or shame, spineless police officers stood before the media cameras and threatened the Hindus for saying 'Jai Shri Ram.' One was even seen looking straight into the eyes of protesters and warning, 'Shout Jai Shri Ram' all you want now, we'll take action at night.' In Mamata's Bengal, even chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' has now become a punishable offense. But don't be afraid, the people of Bengal will soon give a fitting response to this one-sided oppression against Hindus under her regime. In Siliguri, the attackers who targeted Hindus have already been identified. and the list has been submitted to the authorities by Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista. He has also appealed to the Governor regarding the matter. This Bengal must be made livable again for Sanatanis. That is now the greatest pledge of the people of Bengal. ' On Saturday, Majumdar also responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent allegations regarding electoral rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024. Gandhi had claimed that those polls were 'rigged' and suggested a similar pattern would be seen in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Reacting to the Congress leader's statement, Majumdar said, 'The problem with our Opposition is that wherever they win, they say EVMs are right, and where they lose, they say EVMs are faulty and there is match-fixing.' He likened Gandhi's remarks to the excuses of 'kids who do not know how to play the match and then blame the pitch and the umpire.' Taking a dig at the Congress leader, Majumdar added, 'Rahul Gandhi does not know how to play. I wish that his prediction that the states without BJP government will have a BJP rule comes true. A BJP government should also be formed in Bengal according to his prediction.' Majumdar also suggested that Rahul Gandhi should visit West Bengal to witness the state of democracy under the Mamata Banerjee-led government, implying that it would offer him a clearer understanding of the challenges to democratic functioning in the state. (ANI)
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
Amjad Ayub Mirza exposes systemic persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan
London [UK], June 9 (ANI): Amjad Ayub Mirza, a leading activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has delivered a scathing analysis of the Voice of Minority in Pakistan's May 2025 report, which highlights the deteriorating situation of religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Ahmadis, under the country's majoritarian framework. Mirza accused Pakistan of cultivating a culture of impunity in which Muslims, protected by blasphemy laws, supposedly have a 'licence to kill.' Citing Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, he emphasised how simple accusations of blasphemy can result in arrests, lynchings, or even capital punishment, as seen most infamously in the cases of Asiya Bibi and the assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Christian minister Shahbaz Bhatti. According to the report, at least 43 cases of religious persecution occurred in May 2025 alone, including deliberate violence against Hindus in Sindh's Mirpur Khas and against Christian women in Lahore. Notably, six attacks on the Ahmadiyya community were reported in districts including Kasur, Sialkot, and Lahore, with several reportedly carried out by bar associations, Tehreek-e-Labbaik, and police officers. Mirza described how young minority girls, some as young as 12, are abducted and forced to convert to Islam. He also quoted the Sindh Assembly, where MPA Faisal verified reports of Hindus being compelled to eat beef, which is profoundly repugnant to their religious views. These reported actions frequently coincide with religious festivals, such as Bakra Eid. Beyond physical violence, minorities are systematically excluded from civil services, education, and political participation. Many are relegated to low-paying jobs like sanitation work and live in neglected neighbourhoods lacking basic utilities. Temples, churches, and gurdwaras are frequently vandalised or illegally occupied, while media outlets ignore or suppress reports of festivals like Diwali or Christmas. Mirza concluded that the persecution of minorities in Pakistan is not incidental, but embedded in the ideological foundation of the state. 'Being a Christian or a Hindu in Pakistan is treated like a crime,' he said. (ANI)
