Opposition Targets Odisha Govt For Parking Lord Jagannath's Funds In Private Bank

Bhubaneswar: Amidst the demand to open the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Puri Srimandir, the BJP today demanded Odisha government to clarify its decision to park funds of Lord Jagannath in a private bank.

As per reports, around Rs 600 crore corpus fund of Puri Srimandir along with the donation money has been shifted to Yes Bank from a nationalised bank.

Union minister Pratap Sarangi said that it is the duty of Odisha government to ensure safety of Lord Jagannath's funds and it should clarify why the funds have been deposited in a private bank.

"Like the mystery behind the disappearance of Ratna Bhandar key, the State government's silence over Lord Jagannath's funds is also a mystery. Why has the government kept the funds in a private bank? The government needs to come up with a clarification on the issue," said Sarangi.

"Was there any instruction from the Law Department to deposit the money in a particular bank? Is the government aware of the same? Those who have deposited the money in the private bank should reveal the reason behind it," said Odisha Congress chief, Niranjan Patnaik.

On being asked about the matter, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said, "I have no idea about it, so it will not be proper on my part to comment anything."

Meanwhile, it is alleged that even though the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee is in charge of all the funds of the Puri Temple, the temple administration deposited the money in the bank without the consent of the committee.

Senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra said, "How was the money deposited in a different bank without any discussions with the temple management committee? We will move the SC over the matter."

After a controversy erupted over the matter, the temple office has reportedly floated a tender seeking quotation from 17 nationalised public sector banks on the 'rate of interest on fixed deposits for parking the funds of SJTA.'