West Bengal Govt Distributes Jagannath Prasad, BJP Questions HIDCO's Role Over Fund Allocation
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The West Bengal government is distributing prasad from the new Jagannathdham temple to over 10 million households. The BJP alleges misuse of HIDCO funds.
Amid allegations that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government diverted funds through the state-owned HIDCO, the West Bengal administration has begun distributing 'prasad' from the newly inaugurated Jagannathdham temple in Digha to more than 10 million households across the state.
The BJP leadership has alleged that public funds were routed through the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO) for this initiative.
'At the gracious initiative of Smt. @MamataOfficial, the divine Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath from Digha is now reaching homes across Bengal. From today until 27th June, you can collect your sacred Prasad box from your nearest ration shop," the TMC posted on X.
'The mandate of the HIDCO is to construct buildings for the government. This is why we did not say anything when it constructed the temple. But how can it spend such an amount to distribute prasad to households?" asked Jagannath Chattopadhyay, West Bengal BJP general secretary.
The BJP has hinted at legal action, saying it will go to court for the source of money spent on sweets, not religious misrepresentation.
Chattopadhyay stated that the state government has already allocated Rs 32 crore to various district magistrates and the Kolkata municipal commissioner for procuring sweets like goja and peda. An additional Rs 10 crore is expected to be disbursed, taking the total to Rs 42 crore, which will be spent by HIDCO to distribute sweets as prasad to the people of the state.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Vinod Bansal called it 'cultural misappropriation". The BJP also accused the state of politicising Hindu festivals. It said that the 'government is misusing public money for religious optics" and further demanded an investigation into HIDCO's role.
According to the sources, the BJP may also write to the Election Commission, seeking an audit of the funds used.
The authenticity of the prasad has also been questioned. BJP leaders alleged that the sweets are being made by minority-owned units. 'This is not traditional prasad, but commercially prepared sweets — misleading and disrespectful," the BJP said.
CM Banerjee had directed that prasad from the temple be distributed to people across the state during its inauguration on April 30. The distribution is carried out through the public distribution system, which typically provides subsidised food grains. On certain occasions, TMC leaders have been seen delivering the prasad door to door.
Each packet of prasad, which costs Rs 20, contains two sweets and a photograph of the temple along with the deities — Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The temple, built over 20 acres of land, resembles the 12th-century famous Jagannath temple of Puri, and there has been a controversy over the use of the phrase 'Jagannath Dham".
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