Bhubaneswar: Targeting the State Government over the slipping of Lord Balabhadra during Pahandi to Adapa Mandapa in Puri, the Congress party today demanded a judicial probe into the entire incident.
Holding a press conference here at Congress Bhawan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Sarat Pattanayak today said a very unfortunate incident occurred during the Adapa Mandapa Pahandi of Lord Balabhadra during Rath Jatra in Puri, which is hurt lakhs of Jagannath devotees.
As the administration is also responsible for the incident, Shri Pattanayak said the government should set up a judicial commission led by a retired judge of Orissa High Court to probe the incident and submit its report within a month.
Similarly, former OPCC President Prasad Harichandan alleged that several crucial rituals of Lord Jagannath and his siblings have been skipped during this year’s Rath Jatra.
He alleged that the Netra Utsav has not performed as per rituals and the Lords have been taken in Pahandi without serving them ‘Bhoga’.
Meanwhile, Congress Veteran, Niranjan Patnaik has welcomed the recent opening of the Shree Mandir’s Bhitara (Inner) Ratna Bhandar but has raised important questions regarding the timeline of the event.
Addressing the issue, Shri Patnaik highlighted discrepancies in the widely reported claim that the Ratna Bhandar was opened after 46 years.
According to records obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Ratna Bhandar was last opened on July 14, 1985, during the tenure of Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik under the Congress government. Patnaik questioned the veracity of recent reports suggesting a 46-year gap since the last opening.
Shri Patnaik emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the whereabouts of the Ratna Bhandar keys, which were presumably last used in 1985.
“The Bharat Ratna Bhandara was opened in 1985. The question is, where is that key?” asked Shri Patnaik.
He urged the government to investigate and disclose the location of the key as recorded in the government registrar during that period.
Shri Patnaik also reminded the public of a Judicial Commission formed on June 6, 2018, under former Orissa High Court justice Raghubir Das, to investigate the loss of the key. Despite the commission submitting its report on November 29, 2018, the findings were never made public.
In light of these concerns, Shri Patnaik urged Chief Minister Shri Majhi to release the Commission report immediately to ensure transparency and maintain the trust of Jagannath devotees across the State.
He cautioned against the spread of false information regarding the Ratna Bhandar’s history.
“As Jagannath devotees, we deserve the truth. Let us not spread false news that the Outer Ratna Bhandara has been opened after 46 years. The government must refrain from such misinformation and act responsibly,” said Shri Patnaik.