Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

Extending his support on Odisha government’s firm decision to cap the height of idol of goddess Durga to four feet for the upcoming Durga Puja, former BJD MLA Debashish Samantaray on Sunday slammed senior party leader and MP Bhartuhari Mahtab.

Earlier a day before, expressing his views on the restrictions on idol height, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab had said that small size of idol means obstructions in ‘Puja’. 

“I don’t think Covid could be kept in bay by reducing the height of the idols by two and half feet,” Mahtab had said.

Terming the decision of the State government as ridiculous, the senior leader said anybody could move the court challenging the decision.

On the other hand, hitting back Mahtab, Samantaray said the MP shouldn’t try to create disturbances in Cuttack town by opposing the decision of the State government.

“Keeping the possible third wave in view, the decision has been taken to put a curb in the pandemic. There is no logic behind Mahtab’s opposition to the move,” said Samantaray.

The former MLA said, there has been no mention of the height of the idol in any scripture. Hence Mahatab’s claim of ‘obstruction in puja’ is unjustified and unacceptable.

“Mahatab was never present in the scene ever since the cap on idol controversy erupted. A wise MP like him shouldn’t question the decision at this crucial juncture,” he said.

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
 

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