The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Odisha): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader VK Pandian, a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, commented on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders raising the issue of the missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath Temple during election periods, stating it has not provided electoral benefits.
In an interview with ANI, VK Pandian, who is also the Chairman of 5T, Odisha, affirmed that the BJD government is transparent on this issue and that the Ratna Bhandar will be opened soon during the Rath Yatra.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the missing keys of Lord Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar, which disappeared six years ago. Pandian clarified, “The matter (missing keys) is under the inquiry of the Orissa High Court, which formed a committee. The committee has decided to open Ratna Bhandar during Rath Yatra. Everything will be known once the enquiry is completed.”
Pandian further explained that the management of Ratna Bhandar and other temple affairs is overseen by a committee led by Gajapati Maharaj, who is neither a political figure nor an official. “Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of Lord Jagannath, has not been opened since the 1980s. It’s been more than 40 years, and nobody has opened it. There has to be an occasion to open it. The affairs are managed by the committee headed by Gajapati Maharaj, who has hereditary rights. Everyone in Odisha will know when the Ratna Bhandar is going to open,” he said.
Pandian also mentioned that the current Chhattisgarh Governor, Biswabhusan Harichandan, who was the Law Minister in alliance with BJD (2004-2009), never raised any issue about the mismanagement of the Jagannath temple. Similarly, Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal, who was also a minister, never spoke about it.
“If there was anything amiss, they would have raised the issue at that time. It has been 40 years, nobody has opened it. Chief Minister Patnaik took charge in 2000,” he said.
He noted that the issue has been sensationalized during various elections. “This has always been brought up during elections in 2019, in bypolls, and in Panchayat polls. BJP lost all districts. If they think these things can give electoral success, then history shows otherwise. The government has been extremely transparent, and it is under the purview of the High Court,” he stated.
Responding to Prime Minister Modi’s remark suggesting the missing keys might have been sent to Tamil Nadu, Pandian’s birthplace, he expressed personal sadness. “It makes me feel saddened that my connection with Lord Jagannath is being questioned for political purposes. It is completely baseless and very unfortunate. He has made a political statement. I will leave it to Lord Jagannath to decide and surrender before Lord Jagannath,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi had vowed to solve the issue and make the committee’s report public if BJP is voted to power in the state. In 2018, CM Patnaik ordered a judicial inquiry after officials were unable to find the keys during an inspection mandated by the Orissa High Court. The commission submitted a 324-page report the same year.
Last year in November, the BJP reiterated its demand for reopening the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath temple for repair and inventory of the valuables stored there.