The BJP on Thursday demanded an impartial probe into irregularities in selection of ‘Daru’ (holy wooden logs for making idols) of the Puri Shreemandir Trinity as alleged by Bishwakarma Krushna Maoharana on Wednesday. 

“After Bishwakarma Krushna Moharana publicly stated that Darus were selected for money, the State Government’s wrong doings have come to the fore.

It is not only a religious assault, but financial and criminal conspiracy against Lord Jagannath,” alleged BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya at a Press meet here.

Stating that the BJD, during its last 18 years of rule, has pushed Lord Jagannath into different controversies, Acharya said irregularities in Nabakalebar and Brahma Parivartan and the incident of missing of Ratna Bhandar keys have hurt 4.5 crore Odia people.

“The Chief Minister had constituted three commissions to probe different issues of the Shreemandir and failed in each case.

Now, a serious allegation has come to the fore with a Bishwarma servitor revealing that there was monetary deal behind selection of Darus. If his allegation is true, then culprits should come to the fore.

Hence, the issue should be probed by an impartial probe committee,” demanded Acharya.

Meanwhile, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati demanded that the issue be probed by a sitting judge.

He alleged that a Rajya Sabha member of the BJD is involved in the ‘Daru’ selection irregularities and Law Minister Arun Sahoo in the Brahma Paribartan fiasco.

OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik also took to Twitter and came down heavily on the ruling-BJD. “Revelations by ‘Mukhya Biswakarma’ of the Debadalana Chariot on Brahma Paribartan fiasco are appalling... BJD has insulted the faith of crores of Lord Jagannath devotees,” tweeted Patnaik.

Commenting on the matter, BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said “They (Opposition) are levelling allegations only for the sake of making allegation.

They should not indulge in hurting religious sentiments of the people.”