‘Govts can’t spend taxpayer money on temples’ — Suvendu questions Mamata’s ‘Jagannath replica’ promise

‘Govts can’t spend taxpayer money on temples’ — Suvendu questions Mamata’s ‘Jagannath replica’ promise

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government’s promise to build a Jagannath Temple in West Bengal has been labelled a political ploy by the BJP.

Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari has said the Trinamool Congress government is building a cultural centre in Purba Medinipur district, not a temple, saying the Constitution bars governments from spending taxpayers’ money on building religious infrastructure.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the construction of the temple this April, saying it would be inspired by the Jagannath temple in Puri and built at a similar scale.

Addressing the media in Nandakumar Sunday, Adhikari said the government of West Bengal was building a “Jagannath dham sanskriti kendra”, citing the tender issued by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) Ltd.

He also shared the purported document on X (formerly Twitter) and said, “WB Govt isn’t constructing a temple, rather a ‘cultural centre’… because the Constitution of India bars the governments, be it central or state or its agencies, to spend the taxpayer’s money on building religious infrastructure.”

ThePrint contacted retired IAS officer Debashish Sen, the chairman of the West Bengal HIDCO, which is spearheading the construction, for a response to the allegations, but he declined comment.

State minister Akhil Giri of the Trinamool Congress also said he didn’t want to comment. “We heard what the local residents had to say, and we will deliver to them what they want. If it’s a cultural centre or temple, I do not want to give any comment,” he said.

Adhikari’s statement comes weeks after it was confirmed that the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol at Ayodhya will take place in the presence of PM Narendra Modi in January next year, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

BJP leader Adhikari said the Ayodhya temple wasn’t being funded by the central government, and “Hindus across the world are donating money for its construction”.

“I myself donated a Rs 2.5 lakh cheque to the Vishva Hindu Parishad from my MP pension fund. Some have given 10 rupees, some have given 50 rupees as per their financial capacity.”

‘Marble idols’

In a Facebook post about the Digha temple, Mamata wrote this April that “special stones are being brought from outside and the state government will be spending over 113 crores (sic) for the construction”.

“The grand project is set to be a replica of the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri to be built on a total of 20 acres of land. The temple will feature a grand entrance, a dedicated ‘bhog-ghar’ for the preparation of the prasada, and a sitting place for worship,” she said, adding that the temple will have marble idols.“Most importantly, the construction will be such that no cyclones or natural disasters can affect it. This Jagannath Temple will not just be a religious structure, but an embodiment of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of our country,” she added. “It is expected to foster tourism and attract visitors from all over the world, thereby boosting the economy of the region. This temple will provide a platform for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate our shared beliefs.”

Giri, the Ramnagar MLA who was present with Mamata during her visit to the construction site in April, told ThePrint that devotees will be able to offer prayers to Lord Jagannath, Balaram and goddess Subhadra inside the temple.

“We will keep provisions for the devotees to get darshan, there will also be arti and bhog. Prayers will be offered to the gods and goddess.”

Adhikari said the “deception will destroy the Trinamool Congress government”, with a potshot regarding the ongoing controversy about Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, accused by the BJP of asking questions in Parliament in return for money.

“Mahua Moitra spoke ill about Kali Maa and look how she was destroyed,” he added, in a reference to comments she made last year over a movie poster where Kali’s depiction triggered widespread controversy.

(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)