‘Why such envy against Jagannath Temple’: Mamata Banerjee slams ‘baseless’ neem wood theft charge

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited violence-hit areas, in Murshidabad, West Bengal, on May 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Refuting allegations of theft of sacred neem wood from Puri’s Jagannath shrine to make the idols for the newly built Digha temple, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (May 5, 2025) said that these allegations are “baseless and unacceptable”

“Why would we use stolen neem wood? We have our sources of neem wood. These allegations are baseless and unacceptable,” Ms. Banerjee said speaking with media persons in Murshidabad.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson said that Opposition parties are envious of Jagannath temple in Digha. “Why such envy against Jagannath Dham. They are saying I stole neem wood. My house has four neem trees, for their information. Ask them how many they need. I do not need to steal. The mother of thieves screams the loudest,” she said.

Ms. Banerjee said that Daityapati has brought the wood from other place and said what the priest told was right. “Our idol was supposed to be made of marble….Many of us have Jagannath idols at home. Daityapati has brought it. I heard that he was summoned, but he has clearly said that what is being told is not right. He said he brought it from another place,” she said.

Also read | Servitor served notice over ‘use’ of Puri Jagannath temple sacred wood to make idols in Digha shrine

The Chief Minister also added that the temple at Digha is not in opposition to Puri temple. ”Why are they so angry just ecause we have built a Jagannath temple in Digha? Is it a crime to worship Lord Jagannath in West Bengal? Why does it hurt them so much? We all go to Puri. When I go to Puri, the RSS and BJP protest against me. Have you forgotten?,” Ms. Banerjee said.

The temple at Digha in West Bengal Purba Medinipur was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on April 30 and has been built over 20 acres of land. The temple has been built at the loss of ₹250 crore.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern over reports of attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha and said that they are targeted for speaking in Bengali.

“Why are you assaulting our people? We heard that if anyone speaks Bengali in Odisha, they are beaten. The same happened in Maharashtra, U.P., and Bihar.” she said. Two TMC MPs Samirul Islam and Yusuf Pathan had written letters about the assault of migrant workers from West Bengal in Odisha.

Also read | Devotees, priests from Odisha demand removal of ‘Jagannath Dham’ label from Digha temple

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who has been critical of setting up of Jagannath Temple in Digha, said that West Bengal authorities are too feeling the heat and Jagannath Dham signage have been removed from the site at Digha.

Mr. Adhikari also added that Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued a show-cause notice to Dasmohapatra, requiring him to respond within seven days to allegations that idols were made from surplus sacred neem wood from Puri’s 2015 Nabakalebara.