TV
The suggestion to remove 'Dham' from the title of Digha Jagannath temple in West Bengal has sparked significant debate in the country.
In response, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Monday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what he perceives as a cunning and needless controversy instigated by the name change proposal. According to Harichandan, the whole world is condemning Mamata over the incident.
Minister Harichandan took a firm stance, asserting that despite the Odisha Chief Minister's insistence to remove the 'Dham' tag, Mamata Banerjee has neglected the customary courtesy in this matter.
Odisha mulls legal steps
"When esteemed religious leaders like the Shankaracharya have raised their concerns, what can be expected from those involved in political affairs?" asked Minister Harichandan.
"The whole world and all the devotees of Lord Jagannath are condemning the cunning way of the title theft initiative. If things will not be resolved properly, we will take legal steps in a bid to protect the Jagannath culture. We are reviewing the matter," the Minister said.
Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb has also urged for the removal of the ‘Jagannath Dham’ tag from the newly built Jagannath temple in Digha.
Must Read: Puri Gajapati Maharaja seeks removal of ‘Dham’ tag from Digha Jagannath temple
Gajapati Maharaja emphasised that it is not appropriate to label Digha temple as 'Jagannath Dham'. He highlighted that while there are numerous Jagannath temples at various places across the globe, none carry such a designation.
Local and international commentators have reacted strongly to the situation, underscoring the importance of cultural and religious identities in place names across India. This issue underscores broader conversations about heritage and modernisation in society.
