West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed allegations that sacred neem wood from Puri’s Jagannath temple was used in crafting idols for the newly built Digha temple, calling the claims “baseless and fabricated”.
Speaking in Murshidabad, Banerjee stated, “Why would we use stolen neem wood? We have our sources of neem wood. These allegations are completely baseless and unacceptable.” She further questioned the backlash against the Digha temple, asking, “Why are they so angry just because we have built a Jagannath temple in Digha? Is it a crime to worship Lord Jagannath in West Bengal?”.
Her remarks follow concerns raised by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri, which questioned a senior servitor over the alleged use of surplus sacred wood meant for the 12th-century Puri shrine in crafting idols for the Digha temple.
Banerjee also condemned reports of harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha, calling it a “disturbing pattern”. She directed the West Bengal DGP to take up the matter with his Odisha counterpart, stating, “We will not tolerate attacks on our people.”.
The controversy has heightened tensions between West Bengal and Odisha, with the SJTA expressing concerns over the unauthorized use of sacred wood. However, Banerjee maintains that the allegations are politically motivated.
