Report sought

Puri: Puri Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb, who is also the chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee, on Saturday asked the temple administration to submit the inquiry report on the Brahma paribartan (transfer of souls from old idols to new ones) fiasco last year, sources revealed. The temple administration had suspended two servitors last year for the delay in the transfer of souls. In another development, the  administration on Saturday reviewed the preparation works for the upcoming car festival. Stress was given on smooth traffic flow and providing drinking water to the people during the rath yatra, scheduled to be held on July 6.

Agitation

Bhubaneswar: The Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Association has threatened to agitate from June 1, if the state government does not withdraw the valued added tax (VAT), fee and local taxes on pulses and take them out from the ambit of sensitive commodities category. The general secretary of the association, Sudhakar Panda, said the traders would hold rallies and block roads to let know the administration about their demands. Panda said that members of 94 trade organisations would hold agitation across the state.

Mitra meets CM

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Chandan Mitra on Saturday met the chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat. However, the state BJP leaders said they had no idea about Mitra’s meeting with the chief minister.