Odisha Govt's Temple Development Drive Politically Motivated: Opposition

Bhubaneswar: With the Odisha government initiating a massive temple development, beautification and renovation drive across popular religious shrines across the State, the Opposition parties have termed the move politically-motivated.

Congress MLA Sura Routray said that instead of concentrating on the real issues affecting the people of the State, Odisha government has shifted its focus towards religious sites to gain political mileage.

"When someone looses faith, he/she takes to the almighty in desperation. For the last 21 years, no developmental work was taken up in the State. So now, instead of improving healthcare facilities, irrigation, supply of drinking water and building schools, the government is on to something else," said Routray.

Odisha BJP general secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan alleged that the State government's move is politically motivated. "I think the Chief Minister is trying to make the beautification of temples a political agenda and take political mileage out of it," said Harichandan.

Responding to the allegations, senior ruling-BJD leader Bijayshree Routray said the State government has already completed several developmental works and now, the CM has taken up this new work (temples' beautification) as per the demands of the people of the State and tourists. "This move of the CM has been appreciated everywhere," he added.

On the other hand, political analysts believe that the BJD is adopting BJP's ideology and termed the government's move as 'soft-Hindutva'. "It's a big change in the political strategy of the BJD. It can be termed as soft-Hindutva and an attempt to capture Hindu sentiments (votes)," said political expert, Prasanna Mohanty.

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