Swargadwar land grab row: Shankaracharya blames Odisha Government

Puri: Following the Swargadwara land grabbing allegations, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, in a Press meet today slammed the Odisha government alleging, carelessness of the government, aimlessness of the administration and the lackadaisical attitude of the Chief Ministers of Odisha is responsible for such plight of the mutt.

Shankaracharya mentioned that more than 100 acres of land, stretching from outside the Lord Jagannath Temple premises to the sea beach and various gardens in Puri, belonged to the mutt during the rule of Mughals and Britishers.

“As per facts and findings of the court, the cremation ground was included in the land of Puri Peeth. My predecessor had given the land for the cremation ground considering that whoever is cremated at Swargadwar will attain salvation by the impact of the holy land,” said Swami Nischalananda.

“However, unruly elements captured the land of the mutt blatantly and looted it many times. The in charge of the mutt was also attacked before my arrival and even the documents of the mutt were stolen. There was no stand of the mutt in geographical context,” he added.

Swami Nischalananda also declared that the government should understand that four branches of the mutt are captured by unruly elements with power of the Religious Endowments Act. He alleged that the government has always tried to destroy the mutt and the administration has also insulted the mutt due to the lackadaisical attitude of the Chief Minister.

Adding that the government does not have religious vision for cleanliness of the mutt, the Shankaracharya suggested, “If the Chief Minister finds suitable he could send his trust worthy official, may it be the Commissioner, Collector or anyone else, to take consultation from me and try to cleanse the cremation ground with a religious approach.”