No Misunderstanding with Odisha Govt over Demolition of Mangu Matha: Sikh Community

Bhubaneswar: Members of Sikh community today made it very clear that they have no misunderstanding with the Odisha Government over the issue of demolition of centuries-old Mangu Matha as part of the State Government’s special initiative to transform Puri into a World Heritage City.

A seven-member delegation of the Sikh community, including two MLAs from Punjab, also expressed their complete satisfaction over the Naveen government’s renovation plans for the Mangu, Punjabi, and Bali mutts as part of the Puri beautification drive.

The misunderstanding regarding the issue of demolition of the Mangu Matha was cleared after the delegation discussed the issue with the Odisha Government at the Lok Seva Bhawan here on Monday.

Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Dibya Shankar Mishra and Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das represented the Odisha Government.

The Sikh delegation praised the State Government’s beautification plan and establishment of a security zone around the Srimandir in Puri.

Punjab MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains, who led the delegation, said there is no misunderstanding between Odisha and Punjab over the demolition.

The state government of Odisha has assured us that it will renovate the Mangu, Punjabi, and Bali mutts as part of the Puri beautification drive after the eviction drive is completed, he added.

Earlier on Sunday, the members of the Sikh community had staged a demonstration to protest the demolition of the Mangu Matha and had also threatened to escalate the agitation.