The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) would now monitor the ongoing repair and restoration works of the Jagmohan, which faces the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The PM’s directive came after a four-member BJP State leaders comprising Bijay Mohapatra, Dilip Ray, KV Singh Deo and Sangita Singh Deo met Modi and apprised him about the tardy pace of repair and restoration works.
“The Prime Minister took up the issue seriously and entrusted the monitoring responsibility to the Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and assured us that he would take all necessary measures in this regard,” said Mohapatra.
“The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should not delay the repair works. let the PMO be apprised of all technical inputs and monitor and expedite the repair work of the Jagmohan,” Mohapatra added.
Hours after the direction of the PM, an emergency meeting was convened at the chamber of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi where Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and BJD MPs, including Bhartruhari Mahtab, were present.
Sharma said all possible measures would be taken to expedite the ongoing repair and restoration of the Jagmohan. The meeting of the leaders with Modi, however, assumed significance after KV Singh Deo openly denied to accept the BJP legislature Party leader post.
Notably, Bijay Mohapatra, Dilip Ray, KV Singh Deo, Duryodhan Majhi had not attended the joint meeting of the party MlAs and officer-bearers held recently in Bhubaneswar.