Amit Shah visits Jagannnath temple in Odisha’s Puri

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, January 7:

BJP national president Amit Shah and his wife visited Shri Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri town here this morning.

The couple stayed inside the temple for about an hour.

Among others, BJP Odisha Pravari Arun Singh, state unit president KV Singhdeo, Union minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and senior party leader Suresh Pujari accompanied Shah.

The BJP national president had met the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth Swami Nischalananda Saraswati after his arrival in Puri yesterday.

During an hour-long meeting, the Shankaracharya asked him to take necessary steps to ensure that the Vyasa peeth of Puri should not be neglected at any cost.

“Besides, steps should be taken to keep the mutts and the temples free from those people for whom these places have become their prime source of livelihood,” he told the BJP leader.

Apart from this, the seer also sought the cooperation of Shah for the smooth conduct of the ensuing Nabakalebara festival scheduled in July this year.

The BJP leader also apprised Shankaracharya of the seven-month rule of the BJP government at the Centre.

As per the schedule, Shah will attend the party’s membership drive at Dhauli on the outskirts of the capital city after his return from Puri this morning.

Later, in the afternoon he will attend a party meeting followed by an interaction with the media.