Puri: Tension over Iskcon’s temple plan

Tension ran high in Orissa after senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra on Tuesday alleged that attempts were being made by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) to build a Jagannath temple in Puri. The construction of the second Jagannath temple, Mr Mohapatra observed, aimed at denigrating the importance of Sri Mandir, the existing abode of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in Puri. To substantiate his charge, Mr Mohapatra showed an Iskon brochure on the proposed temple project and said the Puri-Konark Development Agency had approved the proposal.

He also wanted a clarification from the state CM Naveen Patnaik, law minister Arun Sahoo and urban development minister Puspendra Singhdeo on the issue. “Construction of another Jagannath temple in Puri will certainly denigrate the importance of the main temple. No second Jagannath temple has been constructed in at least 500 years in Puri. If the state government does not act to stop construction of the temple, there will be statewide agitation,” he warned.

Sensing trouble from the opposition, the urban development minister directed the Puri collector to furnish a report on the proposed Iskon project. “I have directed the Puri collector to furnish a report. If they are going to construct a temple without permission, action will be taken against them,” minister Mr Singhdeo said.

Meanwhile, Iskon spokesperson Radhakant Das said his organisation had proposed to build a Radha-Krishna temple in Puri. He denied the charge the organisation planned to build the second Jagannath temple in Puri. Sources said Iskon plans to build a temple over an area of 52,000-sq. ft. at Mahodadhi on the seashore.