Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged the Central Government to withdraw the National Monuments Authority’s (NMA) heritage bylaws for two more temples in Bhubaneswar.
Patnaik demanded withdrawal of the draft bylaws for Ananta Basudev and Brahmeswar Temple of Ekamrakshetra.“Central Government should immediately withdraw National Monuments Authority Draft bylaws on Ananta Basudev and Brahmeswar Temple of Ekamrakshetra. It would have been appropriate for Central agencies to take State into confidence on sensitive religious issues,” stated Patnaik. Patnaik also appealed to all MPs from the State to take up this matter with the Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.“I appeal to all the MPs from Odisha to take up this sensitive matter withUnion Government and Prahlad Patel, as it involves sentiments of lakhs of devotees of Odisha, lives and livelihood of sevayats, linked to smooth conduct of Nitis of Lord Lingaraj,” he added.
Patnaik’s demand came a day after BJP State general secretary Lekhasri Samantsinghar alleged, “The State Government is trying to create a wrong impression in minds of people that Centre is against culture and heritage which is a blatant lie.”