Centre withdraws heritage bylaws for Jagannath Temple

BHUBANESWAR: Following widespread protests, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel on Monday announced the withdrawal of the draft notification on heritage bylaws issued by National Monuments Authority ( NMA) for Jagannath Temple in Odisha.

The decision came after delegations of Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from the state met Patel separately demanding withdrawal of the controversial bylaws.

“Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi and BJP MPs from Odisha met me and informed of draft notification on Puri. The notification was issued without knowledge of NMA chairman. This is withdrawn immediately," the minister tweeted.

In another tweet, the Minister said whenever any action will be taken concerning Puri, it will be taken with mutual consent.

Earlier in the day, CM Naveen Patnaik, who visited the 12th century shrine for the first time after the pandemic, said, “Nobody can stop the work of Lord Jagannath.” He said the Centre must withdraw the bylaw notification. “I thank the people of Puri who have sacrificed their lands for development of Shree Mandir. Their sacrifices will not go to waste,” said the CM.