BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Thursday demanded action against 5T chairman VK Pandian and social media influencer Kamiya Jani for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. Taking strong exception to the entry of Jani into the temple, state BJP general secretary Jatin Mohanty told a media conference here that the blogger is a beef eater and promoter, and has claimed so in her video shows.
“As per the temple rules, such people (beef eater) are not allowed into the shrine. The state government has committed a crime by facilitating her entry into the temple for the purpose of publicity of the Srimandir corridor project,” Mohanty said.
He accused Pandian of playing with the sentiments of the Hindus by accompanying her into the temple and conducting a video recording with her on the premises. The temple administration should immediately initiate criminal action under appropriate sections of the IPC for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Stating Puri as the religious nerve centre of Hindus, Mohanty said people of the state will not tolerate such anti-Sanatan activities. He further requested the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to discuss the issue with Puri Sankaracharya for the purification of the temple. “Any laxity on the part of the temple administration will not be tolerated by the BJP which will be forced to take the matter to the court of law and the people of the state as well,” Mohanty said.
No truth in the allegations, says BJD
The BJD refuted the allegations saying no norms were violated by Pandian. Party spokespersons Ipsita Sahu and Swayam Prakash Mohapatra told mediapersons here that no camera had been taken inside the temple as has been alleged by the BJP. Besides, Mahaprasad was also served at the Radhaballav Math and not inside the temple. “This was an attempt to apprise the people across the world about Mahaprasad. But the BJP state leaders cannot understand this,” they added. Alleging that the Odisha BJP leaders attempted to stall the Srimandir Parikrama project from the very beginning, the BJD leaders stated that these conspiracies did not succeed and the grand project is going to be inaugurated on January 17. “The BJP has again started a misinformation campaign against the project. The party leaders should go beyond their narrow political interest and think for the betterment of the state,” they said.