Nothing unusual in Rath continuing for 2nd day: Min
Bhubaneswar: Rath Yatra in Puri turned into a political battleground with the govt and opposition locking horns over the annual event after pulling of chariots was stopped on Friday following massive surge in crowd.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The journey to Gundicha Temple resumed on Saturday.
While BJD president and former chief minister
called for "deep introspection" by the govt, former Odisha Congress president Prasad Harichandan sought judicial inquiry into the alleged "mismanagement".
Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan in turn accused the opposition of politicising the sacred event. "I don't want to speak about people resorting to dirty politics on Mahaprabhu.
They have insulted the Lord with so many deviations in the past," Harichandran said, indirectly referring to inadequacies when BJD and Congress governed the state.
Defending the delay in the chariots reaching the Gundicha Temple, Prithiviraj said it was nothing unusual. "Most years, the chariots are pulled on the second day as well. There are very few examples of Lord Jagannath's rath reaching the Gundicha Temple on the first day," he said.
In contrast, Naveen expressed concern over the event's management. Highlighting past incidents, the former CM pointed to last year's mishap when Lord Balabhadra's idol slipped during the Adapa Bije Pahandi. This year, he noted, "Nandighosh rath (chariot of Lord Jagannath) was still standing at the Singhadwar till 7:45pm, only to move a few metres before the day ended", leaving devotees "disenchanted and disillusioned.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"
Calling for introspection, Naveen wrote on X, "May Mahaprabhu Jagannath forgive all those responsible for the terrible mess that has overshadowed this divine festival this year."
Pressing for a judicial probe after Niladri Bije, Prasad said the chariots seem to have been halted to accommodate corporate honchos. He also questioned the alleged issue of cordon pass to a woman friend of a blogger, who has come under scanner for suspected ISI links.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
39 minutes ago
- Mint
‘George Fernandes was shackled… we refused to compromise on democracy in emergency': PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address on Sunday, played clips of prominent voices who opposed the Emergency, using their remarks to criticise the then Congress government for its suppression of civil liberties. 1. PM Modi emphasised that these voices should be remembered as a reminder to remain vigilant in safeguarding the Constitution. Modi stated that those who imposed the Emergency not only violated the Constitution but also undermined the independence of the judiciary, turning it into a puppet. 2. His condemnation of the Congress for the Emergency-era excesses without naming the party of the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, came amid an ongoing bitter war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, which have claimed that an undeclared Emergency prevails under the Modi government. Modi said people were tortured on a large scale during the Emergency for the 21-month period between 1975 and 1977. There are many examples which cannot be forgotten, he added. 3. He played bits of speeches of former prime minister Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and former deputy PM Jagjivan Ram related to the period. George Fernandes was shackled; he noted and recalled that anyone could be arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) at that time. Students were harassed and freedom of expression throttled, he added. 4. Thousands of people were arrested and subjected to inhuman treatment, but it is the strength of Indians that they did now bow and accept any compromise with democracy, he said. 'People finally won, the Emergency was lifted, and those who imposed it lost,' he said. 5. In his address to the nation through the 123rd edition of his monthly radio program 'Mann ki Baat' PM Modi said, "All of you must be filled with the energy of Yoga and memories of International Yoga Day. This year too, on June 21, crores of people took part in the International Day of Yoga celebrations. It began 10 years ago, over these years, every year this tradition has become even grander than before. This also indicates that more and more people are incorporating yoga in their daily lives." 6. Modi added, 'Eri Silk from Meghalaya was recently awarded GI tag... The tribes of Meghalaya, especially the Khasi community, have preserved it for generations and enriched it with their skills... The silkworms that produce this are not killed, which is why it is known as 'Ahinsa Silk'. It is a perfect product for the global market since there is an increased demand of products that don't harm the environment... This silk keeps you warm during winters and cool during summers... Women of Meghalaya are taking this to a larger scale via self-help groups.' 7. Modi stated an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, which stated that more than 64 per cent of India's population is getting some form of social protection benefit. "Presently, most of the populace in India is taking advantage of one social protection benefit or the other and recently a very important report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has come out. It has been mentioned in this report that more than 64% of the population of India is now definitely availing some sort of social protection benefit or the other," Modi said. 8. India has seen a remarkable 45 percentage point increase in social security coverage over the past decade, making it the second-highest globally in terms of social protection reach. Key government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY), the e-Shram portal, and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have been instrumental in this expansion. 9. This significant rise in coverage is also expected to bolster India's position in international forums and facilitate the finalisation of social security agreements with developed countries, enhancing global cooperation and worker welfare. People finally won, the Emergency was lifted, and those who imposed it lost. 10. PM Modi also mentioned the World Health Organisation report, which has declared India free from Trachoma disease and asserted that the credit behind the achievement goes to India's health workers and 'Jal Jeevan Mission'. 'WHO has declared Indian Trachoma-free country... This is the success of our health workers... 'Jal Jeevan' Mission has contributed to this', PM Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Naveen Patnaik slams Odisha govt's ‘incompetence' over stampede, BJP hits back
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday lashed out the state government over a stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri that claimed three lives. Later, the BJP-led government slammed the BJD for making political remarks. People during the annual 'Rath Yatra' festival celebration, in Puri, Odisha.(PTI) Naveen Patnaik extended condolences to the families of the devotees who died in the stampede, and said he was praying for the recovery of those injured. "Today's stampede, occurring just a day after the abysmal failure of crowd management during the #RathYatra that left hundreds injured, exposes the government's glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival for devotees," Patnaik wrote on X. Three people were killed and over 50 were injured in the stampede. The incident took place near Gundicha Temple in Puri, about three kms away from the main Jagannath Temple. Chaos ensued after trucks carrying Charamala wood (considered sacred) arrived near the temple, where over 1,500 devotees were seated, eyewitnesses said. However, a detailed probe into the stampede is yet to take place. As Naveen Patnaik slammed the state government over an alleged mismanagement, he also alleged there was no government staff present to control the huge crowd when the accident happened. "The inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha chariot on Rath Yatra day was conveniently attributed to "Mahaprabhu's wish", a shocking excuse that masks the administration's complete abdication of responsibility," Patnaik further wrote on X. Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik has urged the government to ensure that key Rath Yatra rituals like Adapa Bije, Bahuda and Suna Besha take place smoothly. Over 700 devotees have been hospitalised with complaints of suffocation and nausea after the stampede. None of the three chariots could be pulled even halfway from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple as a massive crowd surged. Senior police officials have visited the site, and minister Harichandan has assured that the government will conduct a detailed probe. BJP hits back Without naming Patnaik, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan responded to the criticism, and reminded the BJD how it made mistakes in the management of the festival when in power. "In the past, the BJD government made mistakes and insulted Lord Jagannath. Since 1977, the chariots have always reached the Gundicha Temple on the second day," Harichandan claimed. He also said the BJD was making political statements 'while recovering from jaundice,' and warned that those doing politics the festival will face consequences, 'if not today, then tomorrow'. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Seek forgiveness from Lord Jagannath devotees, tender apology for Puri temple stampede: Odisha CM Majhi
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday sought forgiveness from devotees of Lord Jagannath for the stampede near a temple in Puri , and tendered an apology on behalf of his government for the incident that left at least three people dead. Around 50 others were also injured in the stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple in the early hours of Sunday, officials said. "I and my government seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees . We express our condolences to the families of devotees who lost their lives... pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them the strength to bear this profound sorrow," Majhi said in a post on X. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He also said that security lapses behind the incident will be probed and those found guilty would face stringent action. "This negligence is unpardonable. An immediate investigation into the security lapses will be conducted, and I have directed that necessary steps be taken to initiate exemplary action against those responsible," Majhi said. Live Events The incident took place around 4 am when hundreds of devotees gathered near the temple to witness Rath Yatra festivities, the officials said. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six people is critical, they said.
