VVIP podium poses threat to Shreemandir!

While the Nabakalebar Rath Yatra is just three days ahead, controversies continue to persist in Puri.Barely three days after the relocation of the Utkalmani Gopabandhu’s statue, a platform constructed for the Chief Minister and other VVIPs to view Rath Yatra, has invited a fresh controversy with apprehensions that it may attract attention of terror outfits, and thus, poses trouble for the 12th Century shrine.

The platform has been constructed at the newly-erected statue of Gopabandhu near the Meghanada wall.The recent demolition and relocation drive was resented by the people in the holy town and had drawn criticism from political parties too. The administration justified the move by saying it would ease traffic congestion near the lion’s Gate.

Earlier, the district administration had decided against any construction along the Meghanada wall after a burglar, Prakash Sahu, decamped with three ancient idols from the temple on November 11, 2001. One of these idols was of of lord Madan Mohan, which is considered to be the representative of lord Jagannath.

Sahu jumped the Meghanada wall with the help of a ladder inclined to the wall. Since then, the administration had put restrictions on any construction along the wall.Now with construction of the podium, the administration has flouted its own rules, said some locals.“In view of possible terror threat, the Centre has issued advisories time and again not to give permission to construct high-rise buildings around the Shreemandir. Under the district administration’s decision, several buildings around the wall were also razed to the ground. Under what circumstances, a platform has been constructed is a matter of probe,” a retired police officer said.