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BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, November 29, 2004: Controversy over the shifting of the Biraja idol from the famous Biraja temple in Jajpur (click here for more on the temple) and a missing yantra (gold plate with mystical diagram and mantras) from the seat of the icon, took a new turn with the Opposition Congress today demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident and resignation of Orissa Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei. Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Jayadeb Jena today alleged that the Finance Minister was directly involved in the swapping of the icon and the missing yantra from the sanctum sanctorum of the Biraja temple. Mr. Jena told newsmen here that the discovery of a plate engraved with the name of the Finance Minister and his family members from the seat of the deity during the reinstallation of the original Biraja icon in the temple yesterday clearly indicated the minister’s involvement in the controversy. The PCC chief said the meeting of the party’s state executive committee, held here yesterday, passed a resolution demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident and resignation of the finance minister. Mr. Ghadei, when contacted by newsmen, described the Congress allegation as baseless, motivated and aimed at defaming him, his party and the government in public. He said he had not committed any offence or irregularities and that he would not tender his resignation on the demand of the Opposition political party whose motto was to make an issue out of a nonissue to destabilize the government.

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