Second Konark Temple Dispute: Dissolves To Non-Existent

Anupama Dash January 21, 2022

1 minute read

Konark, Jan 21: The long-running dispute over second Konark temple at Chandrabhaga has come to an end with its demolition.

Gop Tehsildar SK Sagir, Revenue Inspector Bichitra Mohan Mishra, NAC nodal officer Bhagirathi Baral and all other departmental officials were present at the demolition site.

All the idols are safely placed in Mahabir temple and the pedestal on which the idols were kept have been demolished.

According to reports, the Sun Temple was being constructed by Mukesh Jain, a close associate of Om Baba, and the work was in progress for the last three months.

Om Baba had come to Konark about two years back and had expressed his wish to construct a second Sun Temple at the present site.

Though the government had not leased any land in favour of the baba for the temple, the self-claimed godman and his associate selected a site, built a pedestal and installed an idol of Sun God after which they started building a temple.

However, locals as well as Konark Security Council opposed the construction of second Sun Temple and staged protests. The locals were not opposed to worship of Sun God but to another temple when there was already one architectural wonder nearby.

As public discontent escalated, the district administration decided to pull down the second temple.