BJP Seeks Govt’s Clarification On Money Paid To Daitapati Nijog

BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition BJP on Wednesday sought a clarification from the Odisha government for giving Rs 2 crore to the servitors (Daitapati Nijog) of Jagannath temple during Nabakalebar Rath Yatra in 2015.

The state government had sanctioned Rs 2 crore towards payment of compensation to Daitapati Nijog for prohibiting the devotees from climbing the chariots during 2015 Rath Yatra.

“The state government should clarify on what circumstances it sanctioned Rs 2 crore to the Daitapatis. Apart from this, the government may have given them more money clandestinely,” said BJP MLA Pradip Purohit.

Reacting to the allegation, ruling BJD spokesperson Sasibhusan Behera informed that the government had sanctioned the money as compensation following the direction of Sankaracharya.