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Imran Khan in Bhubaneswar
The temple administrator of the world famous Jagannath temple, H S Samantray, has threatened to take legal action against a Calcutta based company for using the images of Lord Jagannath on sarees.
The move comes after right-wing Hindu outfits associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had threatened action against the manufacturer.
The use of the image of Lord Jagannath and other two deities on sarees has sparked resentment among hundreds of priests of the Puri Temple.
Samantray has asked the company to withdraw the saree brand immediately or face legal action.
"We will not take it, the company will have to face the legal consequences if it failed to withdraw the sarees from the market all over the country," he said.
The company had launched Swatika Butia brand of sarees with images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, particularly lord Jagannath, the main deity of the Puri temple.
Samantray told rediff.com, "Lord Jagannath, the most revered deity and a symbol of Hindu faith, has been projected in a saree in a derogatory manner. This is shocking," he added.
Earlier, several Hindu organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Sammukhya had protested against the company for misusing the image of Hindu Gods.
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