Bhubaneswar: The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to launch statewide protests Monday over the missing key of Ratna Bhandar of Puri Srimandir.
Briefing media persons here, state BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty said, “Instead of filing FIR against the persons responsible for the missing Ratna Bhandar key, the government is sitting idle.”
He alleged that the judicial probe order is “targeted to divert” the attention of people from the issue. Referring to the Supreme Court’s order to this effect, he said, “The Apex court’s order proves that the state government is grossly neglecting its duties and has failed to manage the temple properly.”
Dubbing the missing key of the Ratna Bhandar “a criminal negligence”, the BJP leader said that the government should take stringent action against the guilty. Mohanty questioned safety and security of the valuables kept inside the Ratna Bhandar.
“How can it be ensured that the valuable properties of Lord Jagannath are safe and no one has stolen anything,” he asked.
The BJP will stage demonstrations before all district headquarters and sub-divisions Monday.
The party also announced that it will hold a week-long protest in front of all police stations across the state from Tuesday. After holding protests, the party activists will file FIR in the police stations demanding action against the persons responsible for the incident, Mohanty added.Reacting to BJP’s protest, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Our Chief Minister has already ordered a judicial inquiry into the issue. The truth will come out after the probe. Meanwhile, they (BJP) should refrain from politicising the issue.”