The BJP on Tuesday took a dig at the State Government for its alleged spiritual institution demolition drive against a ‘particular community’ and dared the Chief Minister to raid religious establishments of other communities to take stock of their affairs. Maintaining that saints and seers even like the Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati are being tortured and harassed in the Naveen Patnaik regime, party vice-president Pratap Sarangi told reporters here that Patnaik Government has patronised fake godmen and their ashrams and mutts.
“The Government has patronised fake babas and even donated funds to establish their ashrams and mutts. These establishments have been used as party offices where money was distributed to woo voters. Moreover, lands of lord Jagannath, Saradha Bali and Swargdwar have been encroached,” said Sarangi.
He asked the Chief Minister to take action against influential people encroaching Government lands across the State.“I urge the Government to refrain from demolishing spiritual institutions and also from patronising fake godmen,” said Sarangi. Sarangi also dared the Chief Minister to cancel the lease of the disputed leased out land on which the Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was set up. He stated that the land belongs to lord lingaraj.