Mamata Banerjee's Bold Move: Delivering Lord Jagannath's Idol and Prasad to Every Home in West Bengal

A Unique Initiative by the West Bengal Government

Kolkata: On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assigned the state’s information and cultural affairs department the task of distributing images of Lord Jagannath's idol along with prasad from the newly inaugurated temple in Digha, located in East Midnapore district, to every household in West Bengal.

During the temple's inauguration, she stated, "In addition, we will ensure that the deity's images and prasad reach the residences of notable figures across the nation."

This temple is designed to resemble the renowned Shree Jagannath Dham temple in Puri, Odisha.

However, she did not clarify if the term 'notable figures' includes prominent leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, or other national BJP officials.

Interestingly, Chief Minister Banerjee oversees the information and cultural affairs department, with Indranil Sen serving as the Minister of State for this department.

"We will strive to guarantee that every household in the state receives images of the Lord Jagannath Temple and prasad from this temple. I assign this responsibility to the state information and cultural affairs department," she emphasized.

Political analysts suggest that involving a state department in this initiative could lead to controversy, as government entities ideally should not engage directly in religious matters.

CPI-M Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty remarked that this action illustrates how the Trinamool Congress, similar to the BJP, is leveraging religion for political advantage.

"The government’s primary role should be to create jobs for the unemployed and ensure appointment letters reach them. Instead, the Chief Minister is focused on distributing prasad, highlighting how both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP exploit religion for political gain," he stated.

BJP spokesperson Rajarshi Lahiri raised questions about the true nature of the structure in Digha, noting that official state records refer to it as the Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre.

The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Company was responsible for the temple's construction.

"Is the Chief Minister referring to this structure as a temple? Is it officially recognized as a temple?" Lahiri questioned.