Bharatiya Vikas Parishad stages protest in Puri demanding opening of Ratna Bhandar

Members of Bharatiya Vikas Parishad (BVP) staged protest in Puri on Friday demanding opening of Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Srimandir at the earliest.

Hundreds of BVP members took out a massive rally from Puri railway station and marched the whole town. Subsequently, they conducted a meeting in front of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) office and demanded opening of the Ratna Bhandar of Srimandir at the earliest. 

They also demanded the audit of the Holy Trinity’s ornaments inside the Ratna Bhandar by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Chief Administrator of Srimandir.

“Earlier on May 6, we had demanded that the temple administration and the State government should open Ratna Bhandar within a week. If it doesn’t happen we will start indefinite protest,” said BVF head Surendra Panigrahi.

“We don’t understand why the information about the ornaments of Lord Jagannath has not been made public. We will intensify our protests across Odisha including Puri and Bhubaneswar in coming days if our demands are not met. We also demand an audit of the Holy Trinity’s ornaments inside the Ratna Bhandar by CBI,” said another BVF leader.

“The properties of Lord Jagannath are being embezzled by spreading superstition and rumours. Lord Jagannath is the Lord of the universe. Hence, public should be informed about all the properties of the Lord,” said a senior member of BVF.

Meanwhile, SJTA Chief Administrator Ranjan Kumar Das said, “I have received the memorandum about the opening of Ratna Bhandar. The matter is subjudice and decision in this regard will be taken by the appropriate authority,” said Das.