Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s comparison of Chhera Panhara of Lord Jagannath with the Swachh Bharat programme of the Centre has drawn flak from all quarters.
The ruling BJD has criticized the Union Minister, seeking an apology. Criticising Pradhan’s comment on social media, BJD leader and Health Minister Pratap Jena termed the comparison as an insult to the Jagannath cult. BJD spokesperson Pratap Jena also sought apology from Pradhan for the remark.
Puri king Dibyasingha Deb sweeps the three chariots before devotees pull them to Gundicha temple.
During his visit to Rath Yatra Saturday, the Union Minister had said, “Sweeping and keeping clean is a part of our culture. Modiji’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has connections with the Jagannath culture.”
“The Union Minister should tender an unconditional apology to the people of Odisha for making such an offensive remark without understanding the Jagannath culture,” Jena said.
On the other hand, Pradhan said that the BJD was trying to divert the attention of the people from the real issue of the missing Ratna Bhandar keys.
Reply to Jena’s statement, Pradhan said that the BJD leaders are making such statements to cover their own inefficiency. They should not try to divert the attention of the people from the real issue of the missing Ratna Bhandar keys.
“The report of missing Ratna Bhandar keys has appeared in foreign media. So, the BJD is trying to cover up its gross inaction,” Pradhan maintained.
PNN