PATNA: The ‘ Ma Parmeshwari Mandir ’ at Andhrathari village in Madhubani district, which was reportedly ‘purified’ after CM Jitan Ram Manjhi offered puja at the temple on August 18, will be developed into a tourist spot. This decision has been taken by Manjhi who has made no secret of the hurt caused to his sentiments by the purification bid. He has also ordered an inquiry into the episode.

A delegation of party leaders, including rural development minister Nitish Mishra and mines and geology minister Ramlakhan Ram Raman, called on the CM on October 8 and sought measures for the development of temple. Sources said the CM immediately approved a proposal and ordered the tourism department to allocate funds. The finance department issued a notification on October 13 and also intimated the accountant general.

The state tourism department has since sanctioned about Rs 55 lakh for the temple and released Rs 5 lakh for the current financial year. The funds will be utilized for tourism-related infrastructure development and construction of gates, pavement and ghat.

The pace with which the move was given the go-ahead within five days surprised many as Manjhi was visibly hurt and had even told the media that he was informed about the unsavoury incident by his minister Ramlakhan Ram Raman. But the minister denied knowledge of any such incident.

An undeterred CM insisted Raman informed him about the incident and later former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav also told him about it. Manjhi’s minister Nitish Mishra, who was accompanying the CM to the village, also denied any such incident.

An inquiry by the Darbhanga division commissioner and zonal IG is underway. The two officials recently visited the temple amid protests by locals.

