"Started an internal investigation," Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Digha Jagannath temple controversy

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India] May 3 (ANI): Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Saturday claimed that the West Bengal government is creating confusion by naming a newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham." He firmly stated that no temple can ever become a Dham.
Citing an example, Minister Harichandan told ANI, " If I name my house a palace, then my house will not become a palace. No temple can become a Dham. There are four Dhams in the whole country, and there is only one Dham of Mahaprabhu Jagannath."
"Given that an attempt has been made to create confusion in the entire environment, the West Bengal government should not do this... We have also started an internal investigation regarding this. Very soon, its results will come out", the Minister Harichandan said.
Minister Harichandan further informed that an internal investigation is being conducted. He said he has written a letter to the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, to conduct an internal inquiry into the naming of Digha Temple as 'Jagannath Dham', the participation of Puri Temple sevayats in the consecration ceremony, and the use of "Daru Katha" for idol construction.

The Minister believes these actions have offended the sentiments of Lord Jagannath's devotees and the people of Odisha.
Earlier in the day, BJP MP Pradip Purohit had raised objections to the naming of a newly constructed Jagannath temple in West Bengal's Digha as "Jagannath Dham." He said there is only one Jagannath Dham, and CM Mamata Banerjee cannot build another.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Purohit said, "The temple has been named Jagannath Dham. There is a Jagannath Dham in Puri and everywhere else there are temples. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee can't build a Dham. There is only one Jagannath Dham in Puri. We welcome the Jagannath temple built in West Bengal but she can't name it as Jagannath Dham."
Earlier, renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to immediately issue an order not to call the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple at Digha in the state's Purba Medinipur district a "Dham." Pattnaik pointed out that this creates confusion among the devotees of Lord Jagannath.
"The Jagannath Temple inaugurated in Digha is not a Dham...I request CM Mamata Banerjee to immediately order not to call it a Dham as it hurts the sentiments of the devotees of Lord Jagannath and also creates confusion," Pattnaik told ANI.
Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Jagannath Temple at Digha on Wednesday. The Rs 250 crore temple has been built over 20 acres of land and is similar to the 12th-century temple at Puri of the same deities. (ANI)