Bhubaneswar, July 17 (IANS) A political slugfest broke out on Friday as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition — Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress — traded charges over the alleged mismanagement during the Rath Yatra in Puri on Thursday.
On Friday, the main opposition BJD once again targeted the state government, alleging serious lapses in the conduct of the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri.
Senior BJD leader Pramila Mallik said the unfortunate incidents during the Rath Yatra had deeply hurt the sentiments of countless devotees of Lord Jagannath. She alleged that Lord Jagannath was not adorned with the traditional Tahia (ceremonial floral headgear) during the Pahandi procession.
Mallik termed the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee’s explanation “unfortunate”. She questioned his claim that Lord Jagannath’s Tahia was removed after becoming rain-soaked, asking why only Lord Jagannath’s headgear came off while those of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra remained intact.
“The presiding deity of crores of Odias, Lord Jagannath, was taken to the Nandighosha Chariot without the Tahia. The State Government should apologise to crores of Jagannath devotees for this lapse,” said Mallik.
The party also criticised the government over the death of a devotee due to sudden crowd rush at Marichikote in Puri during Rath Yatra. Mallik alleged that the government prioritised VIP security over devotees’ safety, leading to the deaths.
Claiming 362 people were injured, including 122 seriously, the BJD demanded Rs 20 lakh compensation for each deceased devotee’s family and quality medical treatment for the injured.
The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, Bhakta Charan Das, also alleged that the government has committed serious lapses in the management of Lord Jagannath’s affairs for the past three consecutive years, thereby diminishing the sanctity and dignity of the deity.
“It is unfortunate that the government is not respecting the religious sentiments of the people,” he said.
Referring to this year’s Rath Yatra, Das claimed that Lord Jagannath ascended the chariot without the ‘Tahia’ (traditional floral headgear) while leaving the Shree Jagannath Temple. He said that the use of the Tahia during both the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra is a mandatory ritual prescribed by tradition and has been observed without exception for centuries.
The OPCC president further alleged that while three devotees lost their lives in the stampede, around 150 others were injured and are undergoing treatment.
“Meanwhile, the Health Minister’s purported claim that no stampede had occurred reflects the government’s inhuman approach and lack of accountability,” stated Das.
The Congress leader demanded immediate disbursal of compensation to the deceased devotees’ next of kin.
Countering the opposition, the ruling BJP, however, denied any stampede allegations, claiming that the government ensured the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra despite the inclement weather due to incessant rainfall on Thursday.
–IANS
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