Political slugfest ensues over ‘Arpan Rice’ for Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha 

A political slugfest has ensued over ‘Arpan Rice’ after the servitors of Suara Mahasuara Nijog requested the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief to distribute the rice before it becomes unsuitable for consumption. 

The state unit of the Congress said the Arpan Rice which was collected before the inauguration of the Puri Heritage Corridor Project is damaged now and thus, they should be destroyed instead of being offered to Lord Jagannath. 

“The 4.5 crore people of Odisha should know why the rice was collected. They should know if the rice was collected for religious purposes or just for securing their seats,” said Congress MLA Ashok Das. 

When asked what should be done with the rice, Das said, “There is no other option but to destroy the rotten rice. If they are not fit for human consumption, how they should be offered to our Lord.”

The Opposition BJD said the ruling BJP is politicizing the Arpan Rice. 

“It is unfortunate to do politics over the ‘Arpan Rice’. People spontaneously donated the rice for Lord Jagannath. It would be better if it is used for ‘Prasad’.  It is the duty of the administration to preserve them. If there is any negligence on their part, it is also unfortunate,” said BJD MLA Pradeep Disari. 

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On the other hand, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan took a swipe at the Opposition and said his party had already made it clear that the rice was not fit for offering to the Lord but the then BJD government went ahead without paying any heed. 

“Considering the way the rice was collected then, we had told that the collected rice was not fit for ‘Arpan’ (offering). Then the servitors, too, told them that they couldn’t be used inside the temple. The rice will be so treated with as the temple managing committee decides and directs,” said the Law Minister.