Rashmi Rekha Das

Expressing concern over safety of Ratna Bhandar which is the treasure house of Lord Jagannath in Puri Srimandir, Congress legislator Santosh Singh Saluja on Friday attacked the state government asking it to submit the report of Justice Raghubir Das Commission to know the present status of the treasure house. 

It may be mentioned that the government had appointed Justice Raghubir Das, retired judge of Orissa High court, as Chairman of the commission of inquiry to probe into the missing of Ratna Bhandar keys.

Enquiring about safety of Ratna Bhandar, Saluja during the Zero Hour said, “The government had set up Commission to look into Ratna Bhandar issue. However, the government is yet to produce the Commission’s report in the House.”

He later urged the Speaker to instruct the government to produce the Commission’s report in the House.  

Saluja complained that the state government had formed 24 Commissions in the last 21 years for different issues. However, eight Commissions have failed to submit their reports for which the government is yet to produce those reports in House. The government, on the other hands, kept on extending their tenure.

It is learnt that the Ratna Bhandar is there since the temple was constructed in 12th century. There are three storehouses inside the Ratna Bhandar, but primarily only ornaments from ‘Bahar Bhandar’ is used for the day-to-day activities of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

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