By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Call it Kendrapara BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty proposes while Bhubaneswar BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi disposes and the results, angry BJD MPs on Saturday knock the doors of 2 Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal over the controversial bylaws framed by National Monument Authority.
“The @bjd_odisha MPs delegation met Shri @JoshiPralhad & Shri @arjunrammeghwal, Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs, to strongly convey Hon’ble CM @Naveen_Odisha Sir’s request for withdrawal of offending draft notification for #Lingaraj & #Brahmeswara Temples.@CMO_Odisha@OfPinaki,” Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty tweeted @AnubhavMohanty_.
“Personally requested #Bhubaneswar MP Mrs.@AprajitaSarangi to join us but she refused point blank. Regret @BJP4Odisha’s noncooperation in a purely non-political issue concerning #Odisha’s honour & spiritual sentiments.@CMO_Odisha @OfPinaki,” BJD MP Mohanty said in another tweet soon after meeting 2 Union Ministers.
BJD MPs met Union Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal demanding withdrawal of the controversial bylaws framed by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) for Ananta Basudeba Temple and Brahmeswar Temple, the BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, who represents Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha Constituency, denied to join the delegation.
On request of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a delegation of BJD members from Odisha had met the Union Ministers in New Delhi over the issue seeking withdrawal of the NMA bye-laws for two ancient temples in Bhubaneswar like Puri Srimandir.
It is pertinent to mention here that the State Government and servitors of Lingaraj Temple have been demanding roll-back of the proposed draft notification that prohibits construction work around Ananta Basudeba Temple and Brahmeswar Temple in Ekamra Kshetra.
Chief Minister Patnaik had put forth his demand before the Centre for withdrawal of the bylaws that would affect livelihoods of Lingaraj Temple servitors. Opposing the Centre’s proposed heritage bye-laws, the protestors on Friday had lit up lakhs of diyas (lamps) as mark of mass protest in front of the Lingaraj Temple.
Earlier, cutting across the partyline the parliamentarians from Odisha had raised their voice together before Union Minister of Culture Prahlad Singh Patel for withdrawal of bye-laws for Puri Srimandir following which the NMA rolled back the draft notification.
.“Central Government should immediately withdraw the National Monuments Authority Draft Bylaws on Ananta Basudev & Brahmeswar Temple of #EkamraKshetra. It would have been appropriate for the Central agencies to take the State into confidence on sensitive religious issues,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said. “I appeal to all the MPs from Odisha to take up this sensitive matter with the Union Government & Prahlad Singh Patel as it involves the sentiments of lakhs of devotees of Odisha, lives and livelihood of sebayats, linked to the smooth conduct of Nitis of Lord Lingaraj,” Patnaik had added earlier.
“I appreciate the deep concern of Hon. CM Odisha Shri @Naveen_Odisha regarding protecting the rich heritage of Odisha and respecting the sentiments of devotees, sevayats and the people of #EkamraKshetra of Bhubaneswar,” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted @dpradhanbjp. “It seems that Hon. CM Shri @Naveen_Odisha is inadequately briefed on the applicability of the draft bylaws promulgated by NMA on the Ananta Basudev and Brahmeswar temple in Bhubaneswar,” Pradhan said in a series of tweets.
“Protection of monuments of national, historical & cultural importance is a collective responsibility of all of us. Hon. CM who is a founding member of @INTACHIndia must be aware that all notified monuments are protected under the AMASR Act, 1958 enacted in the Parliament.To facilitate better upkeep, protection and preservation of these national treasures, NMA was constituted by a court order to provide better policy and legal framework to further improve upon preservation of monuments of immense cultural and historical importance.Director, @Culturedeptt, Govt. of Odisha, being the competent authority has been giving necessary permissions for any kind of construction and development activities within the periphery of the notified monuments in Odisha,” Pradhan said.
“It is therefore requested of Hon. CM Shri @Naveen_Odisha to direct Chief Secy., Govt. of Odisha, to write a letter to Secy. @MinOfCultureGoI for examining point by point provisions of the draft bylaws and for listing out objections of the state govt in the draft published by NMA.I assure Hon. CM that Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi’s govt. will leave no stone unturned in honouring and respecting the culture, pride & sentiments of Odisha and its people. We are committed to address through dialogue all objections of the state Govt. regarding these draft bylaws,” Pradhan argued.
