BJP national president Amit Shah and his wife visited the Shree Jagannath Temple here on Wednesday morning. The couple spent nearly an hour inside the temple. Among others, BJP Odisha Pravari Arun Singh, State unit president KV Singhdeo, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior leader Suresh Pujari accompanied the Shah couple.
Shah had met Gobardhanpeeth Sankaraycharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati here on Tuesday evening. During an hour-long meeting, the Shankaracharya asked him to take necessary steps to ensure that the Vyasa Peeth of Puri must not be neglected at any cost.
“Besides, steps should be taken to keep the mutts and the temples free from those people for whom these places have become their prime source of livelihood,” the Shankaracharya told Shah. The seer also wanted him to provide all possible cooperation for the smooth conduct of the ensuing Nabakalebar festival.
The BJP chief also apprised the Shankaracharya about the seven-month rule of the Modi-led Government at the Centre.