While the controversy over the missing of the Ratna Bhandar’s keys and the sudden appearance of duplicate keys continues to hog the headlines, senior BJD leader Damodar Rout on Friday took a potshot at former law Minister and BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan.
“They are saying that the Ratna Bhandar has been opened many a time in these years. I have been in politics for last 45 years, but I have never heard of the Ratna Bhandar being opened even once. In 1978, when Biswabhusan Harichandan was the law Minister, I remember the Ratna Bhandar was last opened,” Rout said.
“Now, the question arises if the Ratna Bhandar was opened and they carried an inspection too, Biswabhusanbabu must be having all the information about the keys. If they opened it, they should also answer where the keys are now,” Rout remarked.
He further said, “If there were duplicate keys, why was none aware of it and able to locate it. Besides, if the original keys are missing then how can duplicates be madeIJ”
In reaction, Harichandan said, “Taking care of the keys is the administration’s responsibility and not the Minister’s. After getting court’s interim report, the Government had directed to open the Ratna Bhandar and to inspect the ornaments and other valuables kept inside it. But it was never a Minister’s job to keep information about the keys. The temple administration and the Collector keep track of that.”
But there is some mystery behind the sudden appearance of duplicate keys, and the State Government has some role in it, he added.
However, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy said the answers about all this can be provided by the judicial commission set up by the Government.