‘I Don’t Need to Steal’: Mamata Banerjee Slams Odisha Over Jagannath Temple Row, Says Bengal Migrants Being Targeted

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hit back strongly at the Odisha government amid the ongoing row over the Jagannath temple project in Digha, and raised concerns about the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers.

Speaking in Murshidabad’s Berhampore after meeting local MPs and MLAs, Banerjee dismissed accusations that her government had used sacred materials, such as neem wood, from the Puri shrine to build the Digha temple. “They say I even stole a neem tree. I have four neem trees in my own house. Mamata Banerjee doesn’t need to steal anything,” she said sharply. “Our deity is made of marble. And let’s be clear — a Jagannath idol can be purchased. What’s this noise all about?”

She also rubbished the idea that the West Bengal government had taken anything from Odisha’s temple without permission, clarifying that the sacred wood in question had been brought by a Daitapati (a temple servitor), who has since reportedly confirmed that the allegations were baseless. “Now they are questioning why he came to Bengal. Why this hostility?” she asked.

Banerjee expressed disappointment at what she described as Odisha’s “jealousy” over the new Digha temple. “When you face electricity shortages, we send help from Bengal. During cyclones, even when we are affected too, our engineers come to your rescue. The majority of tourists who go to Puri and other parts of Odisha are from Bengal. So why this outrage if we also build a Jagannath temple?” she said.

She also voiced serious concerns about Bengali-speaking people being allegedly harassed in Odisha and other states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. “What wrong have they done? Why are they being targeted for speaking in Bengali?” she asked. “We don’t treat migrant workers like this in Bengal. Around 1.5 crore people from other states work here peacefully. That’s the difference between us and you.”

Ending her statement on a reflective note, Banerjee said, “There’s no cure for jealousy. But I don’t want conflict. Our Chief Secretary is writing to the governments of Bihar, Rajasthan, and Odisha, and our DGP has already spoken to Odisha’s top officials. I hope good sense prevails.”