I don't need to steal': Mamata on alleged theft of neem wood from Puri for Digha temple

ASSERTING that she doesn't “need to steal", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday rubbished as "baseless" the allegations of using sacred Neem wood from Puri's Jagannath temple to make the idols for the newly built Digha temple.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

She also expressed grave concern over reports of attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha.

Speaking to reporters in Murshidabad, Banerjee hit out at critics, asserting that her government had "no reason to use stolen wood" and dismissed the controversy as a politically motivated ploy to malign her.

"Why would we use stolen neem wood? We have our sources of neem wood. These allegations are baseless and unacceptable," Banerjee said.

"When Mamata Banerjee builds the Kalighat Skywalk and Dakshineswar Skywalk, then there is no question. When she does Kali Puja or Durga Puja, then there is no question. But now Jagannath Dham has hurt them (BJP)? 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.

The controversy erupted after the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri questioned a senior servitor over allegations that sacred leftover wood from the Puri shrine was used to craft idols for the newly inaugurated temple in Digha.

The Digha temple project, backed by the West Bengal government, has been pitched as a major religious and tourism hub.

Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, secretary of the influential Daitapati Nijog, a servitor body considered the traditional guardians of Lord Jagannath, was summoned for questioning by temple authorities in Puri.