Privatization of banks, PSUs, and renaming of many big cities has already created outrage in public. Now, BJD led government in Odisha is walking on the footsteps of center that has raised anger not only in the people of Odisha but also devotees across the country. Around 35000 acres of Lord Jagannath temple’s land is going to be sold out.
The decision was taken in a committee formed under the leadership of BD Sharma who was the then governor of Odisha, said, Pratap Jena. Jena is the minister of Law and housing and urban development department. Jagannath temple management committee who keeps the records of the temple’s property has already approved this proposal.
How Much Land Property Belongs To Lord Jagannath?
via:orissapost
According to the temple administration, around 60,426.943 acres of land spread across the 24 districts of Odisha belong to the temple. In addition to this, 385.252 acres of land is spread outside the borders of Odisha in 6 different states of the country. This includes Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
It is not the first time when Odisha government is selling the property of Lord Jagannath. Earlier, approx 315 acres of land in Cuttack was sold as per the sources. The government also collects shares from the crops grown on land in Bagha and Dochhian. All the money collected goes to the temple’s fund.
Also Read: 5 Unique Centuries-Old Lord Shiva Temples Around The World
Odisha’s government has taken one more decision to tighten the control of temple land encroached by the people of the state for years. The encroachers have to pay some amount to continue using the land. The amount is decided as per the period for which they had hold possession.
#SaveJagannathTemple
The selling process is in progress following which the government is gaining huge criticism from the Hindu devotees. Most of them took Twitter to stop the government from taking this harsh step.
Temple pay tax
Temple priests dnt get salary
Temple deities r broken.
Temple money is being looted
Temple Land 2b sold out.
Hindus r paying heavy price fr being SECULAR & Tolerant.
Is this we voted u fr @narendramodi ?#FreeHinduTemples#SaveJagannathTemple#SaveJagannathLands pic.twitter.com/r97ZKN521i— Sanatan Women (@SanatanWomen) March 18, 2021
This is day light robbery of #JagannathTemple. Temple lands cannot be sold under any circumstances. Bhaktas of #Jagannath must raise their voice to protest this action.
#SaveJagannathTemple pic.twitter.com/u2rrY7DgoL— Shreehari Kutsa (@ShreehariK) March 17, 2021
#SaveJagannathLands
Our religious properties are not public property. #SaveJagannathTemple pic.twitter.com/ZTcZFcRnWV— Avanish Ranjan (अवनीश रंजन) (@avanish_ranjan) March 18, 2021
Where is the “Mandir Yahi Banega” Gang at present?#SaveJagannathTemple pic.twitter.com/U4yXDHEnkQ
— Chitraansh Saxena (@Chitraansh_) March 18, 2021
I am not shocked,
Odisha government to sell over 35,000 acres of Jagannath temple land .
Are our temples just moneymaking machines for the government?#FreeHinduTemples #SaveJagannathTemple pic.twitter.com/js2CU5vucr— Rashmi (@Brahmingirl_15) March 17, 2021