Rourkela: Former minister both at the Centre and in Odisha, Dilip Ray has suddenly written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This development has created a flutter here. People are wondering whether Ray is planning a comeback into politics. Ray is known to play his game keeping cards close to his heart. Even his closest allies can only guess what he is planning. The last time Ray returned to politics, he did so by writing letters to the Centre and Odisha government regarding the second bridge on the Brahmani River.
In his latest letter, Ray demanded heritage status for the ‘Ved Vyas Dham’, famous for its very old Shiva temple. This is where Vyas had written the ‘Mahabharata’. Now the temple is a very popular destination for the 10th-day death ritual. Immersion of ashes after cremation is also done here as the place is known as the ‘second Sangam’. Even the state gazette recognises the presence of the Saraswati River which merges into the rivers Koel and Sankh at a particular point and is known as the ‘confluence’ of the three. The one-and-half-page letter keeps on highlighting the benefits of ‘Ved ‘Vyas Dham’ being declared a heritage site.
“Accordance with heritage status will bring numerous benefits to the dham and areas nearby. It will increase tourist footfalls as well as visits by scholars and spiritual people. In the process, tourism will get a boost and generate economic activities for the local community,” the letter states. However, the concluding part is more interesting. “It (heritage status) will reinforce a state which cherishes its spiritual and intellectual legacy, contributing to the larger narrative of India’s cultural tapestry,” the letter ends. Political observers feel that another letter to the Centre on the same issue will soon be sent. “Another letter in this tone will go to the Centre as Ray is concerned about culture and spiritualism,” said one political observer, who did not want to be named.