Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: The BJP state unit has opposed the decision of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) to set up a "Jagannath temple" in Puri.
"No Odia can tolerate the construction of another Jagannath temple by any organisation in the holy town of Puri. The Pilgrim Town is the abode of Lord Jagannath. No scripture allows a second Jagannath temple in the town," senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said today.
While on one hand, a hue and cry has been created over the Iskcon move, its official Banamali Mahaparabhu said: "Our plan is to build a temple to worship Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. As we have Jagannath temple in other places, we will not build another Jagannath temple in Puri."
Mohapatra, who showed the temple's master plan approved by the society, however, said the state government should issue a clarification on whether it had given its nod to the proposal for the temple. "Iskcon has planned to build the temple over 52,000sqft. They also conducted the bhumipuja (ground-breaking ceremony) on November 29 last year," he said.
That the problem lies more with Iskcon than with the shrine has become more evident in the statement of Daitapati Niyog (association of servitors) president Ramakrushna Das Mohapatra. He said: "We will not allow Iskcon to build any temple in Puri."
"People who have approved the Iskcon project should be taken to task. We will take steps to halt the project," said the senior servitor.
Sources said Iskcon had planned to set up the temple at Baliapanada, 2.5km from the 12th century Jagannath temple, and hardly 200 metres away from the beach. Iskcon had acquired 15 acres at Baliapanda in 1988. It has been deferring the construction plan following resistance from local people.
The proposal to construct a temple also invited criticism from other servitors of the Puri shrine. Lord Jagannath's chief servitor Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said: "This is an insult to the devotees of Lord Jagannath. No temple bigger than the Lord Jagannath's, particularly in Puri, should be allowed."
However, no state government minister agreed to speak on the issue. BJD spokesperson Samir Das said: "The government will certainly not approve such a proposal."
Iskcon's public relations officer Radhakanta Mahaprabhu said: "The plan is at its inception stage. Our highest body has not yet approved the proposal. But, we will not take any step that will harm the Jagannath culture. We should be praised for propagating the Jagannath culture across the globe."