February 19th 2025.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, has raised concerns over the claims made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the Assembly session regarding the proposed Jagannath Temple in Digha. Adhikari, in a statement on Wednesday, challenged the Chief Minister to address his questions about the temple's design and name.
The Chief Minister had claimed that the temple in Digha was modelled after the famous Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. However, Adhikari questioned why the proposed temple has been named "Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre" instead of "Shree Shree Jagannath Temple." He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that the name is changed in all state government documents and tenders related to the construction of the temple.
Adhikari also brought up the issue of only Hindus being allowed inside the Puri temple and suggested that a similar notification be displayed at the entrance of the proposed temple in Digha. Since the Chief Minister claims that the Digha temple is modelled after the Puri temple, Adhikari believes that the same rules should apply.
The Leader of the Opposition also reminded the Chief Minister of his victory over her in the 2021 Assembly elections in Nandigram. He stated that his courage should not be questioned as he had contested and defeated her by 1,956 votes. Adhikari's statement comes after the Chief Minister had questioned his courage for raising concerns about the proposed temple.
The proposed Jagannath Temple in Digha has been a topic of controversy for some time now. Adhikari's statements have further intensified the debate, and it remains to be seen how the Chief Minister responds to his challenges. The construction of the temple is being funded by the state government, and Adhikari believes that it is the government's responsibility to ensure that the temple is named and designed appropriately.
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