BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday met Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalalanda Saraswati at the Gobardhan Peeth here.
He told reporters, “I am aware of the controversies surrounding the Heritage Corridor Project. The temples are the hubs of knowledge and innovation and kings used to frequently visit them. It is everybody’s duty to protect our temples.”
Swamy said, “Biju Patnaik was a close friend and I also have good relations with his son Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. I will discuss with Naveen and ask him about his views on the Heritage Corridor Project. There is a need to end the controversy.”
Swamy said temples should be free from Government control. But as per the Constitution, Government can intervene if there are some irregularities like finance.
“I have always been saying that religious institutions should be protected and the State Government and administration should assist in functioning and they should not take control,” said the Shankaracharya.
According to the Shankaracharya, “The State Government should take concrete steps. Had the Government been concerned about the protection of the mutts, they should not have been demolished.”