Bhubaneswar: Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a scathing attack on the State Government, alleging widespread mismanagement and severe administrative lapses during the world-famous Rath Yatra festival in Puri. Speaking at a press conference held at Shankha Bhavan, senior BJD leaders condemned the State Government following a tragic stampede that claimed lives and high-profile irregularities in the sacred rituals of the deities.
The press meet was addressed by Opposition Chief Whip Shrimati Pramila Mallik, BJD Vice President and former Minister Shri Sanjay Dasburma, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Subhasish Khuntia, and Puri District President Shri Umakanta Samantaray. The leaders collectively stated that the mismanagement has deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of Shree Jagannatha devotees across the globe.
Shrimati Mallik pointed out major deviations from tradition during the Pahandi Bije ritual, noting that Lord Jagannatha was escorted to the Nandighosha chariot without His traditional decorated headgear, the Tahia. She dismissed the explanation offered by the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration Chief Administrator, who claimed the headgear became heavy from the rain and slipped off.
She questioned how the headgears of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra remained perfectly intact under the same conditions if that were the case. She demanded that the State Government issue an apology to the public, adding that such lapses occurred despite the presence of the Chief Minister, Union Ministers, the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, and the District Collector. Furthermore, she criticized the administration for pulling the chariots after sunset, calling it a violation of established traditions.
Shri Dasburma emphasized that the chaos on the Grand Road led to a tragic stampede, resulting in three deaths. He stated that a BJD delegation visited the Puri hospital on the direction of former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and found that 362 devotees were injured, with 122 of them in critical condition.
Shri Dasburma alleged that the inner cordon became overcrowded because thousands of passes were distributed indiscriminately, completely contradicting the Chief Minister’s earlier promise that no cordon passes would be issued. He charged that the police and administration were entirely preoccupied with providing security to national-level BJP leaders and out-of-state guests, leaving regular devotees unprotected. The BJD has demanded a compensation of 20 lakh rupees for the families of the deceased and premium medical care for the injured.
Adding to the criticism, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Khuntia stated that during Shri Naveen Patnaik’s tenure, crowds exceeding 50 lakh devotees were managed seamlessly without any major untoward incidents. He alleged that a total lack of coordination between the Temple Administration, district officials, and the police has turned Puri into a hazardous zone under the current double-engine government. Despite multiple coordination meetings prior to the festival, the ground execution was a failure, and inputs from local public representatives were completely ignored.
BJD Puri District Shri Samantaray provided a timeline of recent festival incidents under the current dispensation, noting that Lord Balabhadra slipped on the Charamala during the first year, a stampede-like situation occurred near the Mausi Maa temple the following year, and this year administrative failure led to three fatalities.
Shri Samantaray also criticized the state Health Minister, pointing out that it took four and a half hours after the incident for the Minister to arrive at the Puri hospital to review the situation. The BJD leaders urged the present government to learn administrative efficiency and crowd management from the previous BJD Regime to protect the sanctity and safety of the holy festival.