Bhubaneswar: The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Saturday launched a fresh attack on the BJP-led Odisha government, alleging that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s promise of ensuring a flawless Rath Yatra this year had proved to be an “empty promise” following the stampede that claimed three lives and the controversy over the absence of the Tahiya (fl oral crown) on Lord Jagannath during the Pahandi procession.
In a statement, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty alleged that despite the BJP coming to power promising better management of the Shree Jagannath Temple and protection of Odia identity, all three Rath Yatras held during its tenure had been marred by serious lapses, hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees.
“The proper administration of the Shree Jagannath Temple and the smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra are among the foremost responsibilities of the state government.
However, over the past three years, the government has displayed gross irresponsibility and repeatedly tried to cover up its failures instead of taking accountability,” Mohanty said. Referring to this year’s festival, the BJD said the death of three devotees and injuries to hundreds in a stampede on the opening day of the Rath Yatra exposed the government’s failure in crowd management.
The party also accused the government of attempting to downplay the incident by attributing the deaths to suffocation instead of acknowledging it as a stampede. Mohanty further raised the Tahiya controversy, saying the absence of the traditional floral headgear on Lord Jagannath during the Pahandi procession had deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees worldwide.
“While Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were adorned with the Tahiya, Lord Jagannath was taken in procession without the traditional floral headgear, triggering widespread criticism,” he said.
Mohanty alleged that during the 2024 Rath Yatra, the first under the BJP government, Lord Balabhadra had fallen while being carried to the Adapa Mandap. Although the government ordered an inquiry into the incident, its report has not been made public, he claimed.
Accusing the government of failing to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual festival for three consecutive years, the BJD said the administration should acknowledge its shortcomings and implement corrective measures instead of offering explanations after every controversy.
The party further alleged that the overall management of the Shree Jagannath Temple remained unsatisfactory and that an orderly system for devotees’ darshan was yet to be established.