Bhubaneswar, May 4: BJD Vice President Prasanna Acharya criticized the West Bengal government for calling the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in Digha a "Dham," calling it an "unnecessary controversy."
Acharya argued that only four Dhams were established by Adi Shankaracharya and urged the Mamata Banerjee-led government not to politicize religious sentiments.
The Rs 250-crore temple, inaugurated on April 30, has drawn criticism from Odisha leaders, including BJP members, who object to the use of the "Jagannath Dham" label.
Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has demanded an inquiry into the temple's naming and rituals. Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also urged the West Bengal CM to drop the "Dham" reference to avoid confusing devotees.
