
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Odisha’s famous Jagannath temple in Puri on Monday and criticized the ruling BJD government over the missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove). Ramping up his offensive against Naveen Patnaik’s party, PM Modi claimed that the 12th-century temple was not safe under BJD rule.
Addressing a rally in Angul, PM Modi said, “Jagannath temple in Puri is not safe under BJD rule. ‘Ratna Bhandar’ keys have been missing for the last six years.” Puri is set to go to the polls along with the state capital Bhubaneswar on May 25.
The Ratna Bhandar at Puri’s Jagannath Temple
Lord Jagannath is the most revered deity in Odisha, and the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath temple holds significant importance among the people of Odisha. The Ratna Bhandar houses the precious ornaments of the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra—donated by devotees and erstwhile kings over centuries. It was last opened on July 14, 1985.
In 2018, the Orissa High Court directed the government to open the chamber for a physical inspection. However, the keys to the chamber could not be found, leading to state-wide outrage. “Prayed to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Puri. May His blessings always remain upon us and guide us to new heights of progress,” PM Modi tweeted.
He then held a large two-kilometer roadshow from Marchikote Chowk to the Medical Square in Puri, accompanied by BJP’s Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra and state president Manmohan Samal.
From Allies to Fierce Rivals
This is PM Modi’s second visit to Odisha in the last ten days and comes as the BJP and the BJD are locked in one of the fiercest battles in recent times. The confrontation between the parties intensified after the BJP and the BJD failed to secure a pre-poll alliance in Odisha. The BJP and BJD had ruled Odisha in an alliance for nine years before ending their partnership in 2009.
PM Modi, who has previously avoided criticizing the BJD government, has directly attacked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on several occasions in his rallies. In his May 11 rally, PM Modi also raised concerns about the “safety” of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of the Jagannath temple.
He has further asserted that “Odia asmita (Odia pride)” and the Odia language are in danger, a direct attack on Naveen Patnaik, who has been repeatedly accused by the opposition of failing to learn Odia and being unaware of the state’s culture.