Pooja Panda and Brahmin Nijog members resign from Lingaraja Temple Trust Board

Bhubaneswar: In the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the servitors at Bhubaneswar’s Lingaraj temple, Pooja Panda and a Brahmin Nijog member have reportedly resigned from the Lingaraj temple trust board.

According to reports, Pooja Panda and Brahmin Nijogs members have resigned and sent their resignation letters to the Endowment Commissioner.

It is to be noted that the rituals at the 11th century temple have been disrupted since Wednesday following a dispute between the servants, including Brahmin Nijog, Puja Panda Nijog and Badu Nijog sevaks.

Brahmin Nijog and Pooja Panda Nijog Sevaks have launched an agitation accusing Badu Nijog Sevaks of illegally constructing a market complex on 2 acres of land belonging to Lord Lingaraj near Gangua bridge. On the other hand, the Badu Nijog Sevaks claimed that they were building the market complex because the erstwhile kings had donated 4.9 acres of land in Nuagaon Mauza to them for doing ‘seva’ and ‘niti’ (allegedly they had ownership of it). The record is ‘of Lord Lingaraj.

Taking serious note of the disruption in rituals, the Endowment Department initiated action to resolve the problem. The assistant commissioner of the department held separate meetings with the heads of Brahmin, Pooja Panda and Badu Nijog. However, the meetings remained inconclusive. After which, the Khurda District Collector has been asked to take steps to restore normalcy in the ‘service’ and ‘policy’ of Lord Lingaraj.