Naveen Patnaik orders probe in ISKCON temple row

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered an administrative inquiry into an alleged plan for the construction of a second Sri Jagannath Temple by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Puri.

According to the Chief Minister’s office official, the Central Division Revenue Divisional Commissioner has been asked to inquire into the matter relating to the construction of the mega temple by ISKCON and submit the report within 60 days.

Earlier, the opposition parties had alleged that ISKCON was planning to construct another Jagannath temple in Puri.

ISKCON, however, denied the charge and clarified that Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra would not be worshiped at the proposed temple and said that it would be a Radha-Krishna temple.

The Orissa High Court on January 29 had issued an interim stay till February 17, forbidding any action by the administration in the matter till further orders.(ANI)