Reopen Temples Across Odisha In 24 Hours; Congress MLA Pleads Before Assembly Speaker

Bhubaneswar: Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati on Tuesday demanded the immediate reopening of temples in Odisha stating that the livelihood of servitors across the State has been affected following the closure due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown.

With folded hands, the Congress MLA urged Speaker SN Patro to initiate the necessary process for reopening all temples including the Jagannath Temple in Puri within 24 hours. Bahinipati also demanded the Speaker to issue a ruling over the subject.

It is pertinent to mention here that devotees across Odisha are hoping for a decision on the reopening of temples by the government so as to facilitate the much awaited darshan of the Nagarjuna Besha of Lord Jagannath on November 27.

Echoing similar views, Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi questioned, “If temples and religious shrines in Maharashtra and other States could be allowed to resume normal functions, why can’t temples in Odisha be allowed to reopen?”

On November 17, Law Minister Pratap Jena had said the State government would take an appropriate decision on the issue of reopening of temples after taking stock of the COVID-19 situation and the related safety issues.

Servitors and priests in several temples across Odisha have been appealing the State government for allowing temples to reopen. They have been staging protests by beating gongs to draw the attention of the government in the last couple of months.