BJD slams Odisha govt over delay in inventory of Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar

The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday came down heavily on the Odisha government for the delay in conducting an inventory of jewellery and valuables kept in Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar in Puri, alleging that the ruling dispensation was misleading the public in the name of religion.

Expressing concern over the safety and accountability of the temple’s treasure, the BJD said that despite repeated assurances, the government has failed to initiate the long-pending inventory process even after the valuables were returned to the Ratna Bhandar on September 23.

The items from both the inner and outer chambers of the shrine’s treasury had been shifted to temporary strong rooms when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opened the inner chamber in July 2024 for structural repair — the first such operation in 46 years.

“The government owes an explanation to the devotees of Lord Jagannath. Why is there so much secrecy and delay in verifying the valuables? The people of Odisha have a right to know,” a senior BJD spokesperson said, questioning the state’s handling of the matter.

The party alleged that while the state government has been making tall claims about transparency in temple administration, it has failed to ensure proper documentation of the Ratna Bhandar’s contents — a sensitive issue that holds deep religious and cultural significance for millions of devotees.

The BJD also demanded that an independent committee comprising representatives from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), ASI, and the state treasury department be formed to carry out the inventory in a transparent manner.

Meanwhile, officials of the SJTA maintained that the valuables are safe and that the inventory process will be undertaken after obtaining all necessary permissions and expert consultations.

The controversy surrounding the Ratna Bhandar — believed to hold priceless ornaments offered to Lord Jagannath and his siblings — has been a long-standing issue in Odisha politics, with opposition parties often accusing successive governments of secrecy and inaction over the temple’s treasures.