Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has questioned the silence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the missing Ratna Bhandar keys of Puri Jagannath temple.
Talking to newsmen here, Pradhan said, “The CM knows everything, where the keys were kept and what happened to those. At a time when the Odisha Governor as well as the people have expressed concern over the issue, Naveen Patnaik’s silence is unfortunate.
“I appeal to the CM to bring out the truth before the people and devotees of Jagannath temple,” he said.
This is not the first time the Union minister has questioned the silence of the CM on the matter. Earlier too, he had demanded a statement from the CM on the issue.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader also hit back at ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders, who Friday termed his claim on assistance provided by the Centre to Odisha as ‘misleading’.
Pradhan alleged that the third floor (the third floor of the Secretariat) is under the control of Kala Pahada (Black Mountain). Kala Pahada is a historical character who invaded Odisha and tried to set idols of the Holy Temple on fire.
“Some people are treating the third floor as their private property. The third floor is now being controlled by ‘Kala Pahada’. BJD leaders speak to the media only what is allowed by the Kala Pahada,” he said.
The Union Minister challenged the CM that he would apologise if the information provided by him was false. He also dared the CM to speak the truth about the Central assistance to the state under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Taking a dig at senior BJD leaders like PK Deb and Arun Sahoo, Pradhan invited them to a tea party at his house, where he will share each and every detail of Central assistance to Odisha.
Reacting to Pradhan’s allegations on missing keys, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb stated, “The CM is a responsible person and understands public sentiments. He has already acted on the issue by ordering a judicial probe. The BJP should stop playing politics on the issue.”
Deb said that there is no available record of who has taken or handed over the Ratna Bhandar key which is an administrative affair.
On Pradhan’s Central allocation claim the BJD leader said, “There is no need for permission for a discussion with the BJP or the Union Minister. As the issues concern Odisha let it be right here in Odisha. No need of discussing with you at your residence there. Let it be it an open debate.
“The data we claim are available with both the bureaucrats of the Centre and the state. Better he asks the secretary of the concerned Ministry about the in-principle approval, factual figures on work being taken up and the budgetary provision. We welcome the debate,” the BJD spokesperson said.
PNN