Biraja temple in Jajpur. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, Dec. 9: With patience running out, residents here appear to be gearing up for a movement to force the publication of the revenue divisional commissioner’s (RDC) report on the Biraja idol swap controversy.

The issue kicked up a political storm in 2004.

The RDC completed the probe in 2006 following a public outcry against the alleged swapping of idols in the 13th century Biraja shrine, perhaps the oldest “shakti peetha” (seat of a female deity) in the country, located in the heart of the town. The man at the centre of the controversy was Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, the biggest Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader in Jajpur district. At present, Ghadei is the finance minister of the state.

“We will launch an agitation to pressurise the government to publish the report. If the government ignores our demand, we will intensify our movement,” said Nilakantha Mishra, a resident of Jajpur town.

Local Congress leader Manoj Kumar Rout said the report has not yet been made public despite a growing demand for its publication.

“This has put a question mark on the sincerity of the Naveen Patnaik-government and its claims of transparency,” said Rout.

Intellectuals have also joined the chorus for the publication of the report.

“For the last six years, we have been waiting to know what really happened in the Maa Biraja temple. It’s outrageous that the report has not been made public even six years after the incident,” said Manmath Moharana.

The incident

The alleged exchange of idols in the 13th century temple in September 2004 took place while repair work was being undertaken in the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine for which the idol of the deity was required to be shifted.

When the idol was reinstalled there after 18 days, allegations flew thick and fast that it was a fake one.

Ghadei found himself in the centre of a controversy when a gold plate with his and his family members’ names inscribed on it was allegedly found lying underneath the deity’s throne.

Soon, the entire Jajpur town was in turmoil with people burning Ghadei’s effigy and demanding his resignation.

The issue also rocked the state Assembly with the Opposition alleging the finance minister’s hand behind the swapping of idols.

The government was forced to order a probe by the revenue divisional commissioner (central division) with Ghadei himself deposing before the RDC.