BJD MPs demand withdrawal of the by-laws relating to Lingaraj Temple

New Delhi: A delegation of BJD MPs met Union Minister Prahlad Joshi and demanded withdrawal of the by-laws relating to Lingaraj Temple.

The development takes place a day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Centre to immediately withdraw the National Monuments Authority (NMA) draft bylaws on Ananta Basudev and Brahmeswar Temple of Ekamra Kshetra here.

“Central Govt should immediately withdraw the National Monuments Authority Draft Bylaws on Ananta Basudev & Brahmeswar Temple of #EkamraKshetra. It would have been appropriate for the Central agencies to take the State into confidence on sensitive religious issues,” the chief minister tweeted.

Patnaik urged the MPs from the state to take up the matter with Union Culture Minister Prahlad Patel as it involves the sentiments of lakhs of devotees of Odisha, besides the lives and livelihood of priests.

The Centre had earlier exempted the Jagannath Temple in Puri from the bylaws.