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- Published: June 14, 2022 19:52
New Delhi: A complaint has been filed demanding an arrest of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi by a Puri-based socio-political group for his controversial comment on the Jagannath temple.
On Monday, the pilgrim town of Puri witnessed protests against Owaisi over his controversial remark about the Jagannath temple.
In May, while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi, the AIMIM MP quoted Swami Vivekananda stating that Sri Mandir was built by demolishing a Buddhist worship place. His statement garnered sharp remarks from the political groups amid the Gyanvapi mosque row.
In an interview with India Today, a senior journalist Rabi Das stated, “It’s a historical fact that lots of Buddhist sites were razed and Hindu temples were built over it, questions are even raised that even Lingaraj temple was built upon Buddhist sites.”
“Ashoka who was the ruler of Kalinga (ancient Odisha) was himself a Buddhist King, but I don’t understand how raising that issue insults Lord Jagannath,” Das said. He added, “I am not a historian to decide whether Jagannath temple was built on Buddhists sites as told by Owaisi quoting Vivekananda.”
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters Jagannath Sena convener Priyadarshan Pattnaik said stated, “Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi is a vicious person. He wants people to indulge in confrontation over religion. According to historians, the Jagannath temple has been transformed gradually since the era of Indradyumna till Chodagangadeva.”
Organisations have demanded his immediate arrest and threatened to take strict actions if no action is taken against the MP.
Jagannath Sena and Yuva Adhivakta Sangh have lodged a complaint at the Singhadwar police station stating that Owaisi has hurt the sentiment of Lord Jagannath’s devotees with his remarks. “His statement can also create unnecessary tension among different communities,” the leaders from the Jagannath Sena said.”