By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/NEW DELHI: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union PNG-Steel Minister seems faced off over the National Monuments Authority Draft Bylaws.“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 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 added.
“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.
