Latest news with #PrithvirajHarichandan
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Administrative lapse, callousness": BJD's Mohanty demands resignation of Odisha Law Minister over Puri stampede
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 1 (ANI): Biiju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Lenin Mohanty on Monday lashed out at the 'administrative lapse and callousness' of the concerned authorities which led to the stampede during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra a day earlier on June 29 and demanded the resignation of State Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan. The BJP leader said that the officials and ministers concerned with the law and order situation during the Rath Yatra were absent during the stampede. Speaking to ANI, Mohanty said, 'We are extremely sad for the incident that has happened. This is the land of Lord Jagannath and people love to come to that place. During the annual rath yatra, a stampede took place on Sunday due to administrative lapse and callousness.' 'A team of 5 ministers was constituted, they were not there when the stampede took place, nor were the officials. When the stampede happened, these five ministers and the top-level officers were not there. An apology is not sufficient. Immediately after that, the real culprit should be punished. They just transferred the collector and DSP,' he said. Adding further, he said, 'The real culprit is the law minister (Prithviraj Harichandan). He always boasts high but has very low performance. He should take moral responsibility and he should resign...' Karnataka Congress MLC BK Hariprasad also reacted to the stampede and said, 'The BJP always tries to take political advantage of every situation. The Rath Yatra, which has been ongoing for thousands of years, has never experienced anything like this before. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has the entire responsibility, and he should resign immediately...' Meanwhile, as an administrative inquiry began into the Puri stampede, Development Commissioner Cum Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha, Anu Garg, spoke to mediapersons and said, '... 30 days are given in which we have to tell the reason behind this unfortunate incident and what measures can be taken so nothing like this happens in the future. We will speak with everyone and review all possible footage. What SOPs were there, and what were followed? After checking everything, the report will be submitted to the gov...' Earlier on Sunday, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan described the stampede that occurred during the annual Puri Rath Yatra as 'very unfortunate' and said appropriate action will be taken after the completion of an investigation. Three devotees lost their lives and several others were injured during the crowd surge at the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. 'The incident is very unfortunate. The state government has taken strict action and a senior officer will investigate the incident... We will take action once we get the report of the investigation,' Harichandan told reporters. He added, 'Mahaprabhu, with his wish, gives darshan to his devotees... Tomorrow, the devotees will have the opportunity to offer prayers... I prayed to Mahaprabhu for the well-being of everyone.' Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the families of each of the deceased devotees. He also assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible and pledged to prevent such tragedies in the future. 'Rath Yatra is a source of pride for Odisha,' the Chief Minister said, adding that the safety and sanctity of the festival would be safeguarded at all costs. 'The chariots in the Rath Yatra reached Shree Gundicha Temple on June 28, and as per tradition, they visited their birthplace the next day. Unique and mesmerising rituals were conducted today very smoothly... We acknowledge the support and cooperation of the devotees... The important ritual will be the Sandhya Darshan on July 4. We request all the devotees to cooperate and follow the given instructions,' he said. The annual Rath Yatra is a significant religious event in Odisha, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country. The recent stampede has cast a shadow over the celebrations, prompting authorities to review crowd management and ensure stricter safety protocols in the coming days. (ANI)
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Scroll.in
Puri Rath Yatra stampede: Odisha minister sets 30-day deadline for administrative probe
An administrative investigation into the Puri stampede that left three people dead and 50 others injured would be completed within 30 days, said Odisha's Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday, according to PTI. The stampede took place between 4 am and 5 am, when a large number of devotees had gathered near the Shree Gundicha Temple to see the deities on chariots that had arrived from the Jagannath Temple in Puri. 'The state government will take stern action against those responsible for the tragic incident,' Harichandan said, adding that Development Commissioner Anu Garg will submit her inquiry report to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Hours after the stampede, Majhi had ordered the transfer of Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain and Superintendent of Police Binit Agarwal. He also announced that Puri Deputy Commissioner of Police Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi were suspended. The chief minister apologised on behalf of the Odisha government for the deaths and said that the incident was 'unpardonable'. A compensation of Rs 25 lakh each was announced for the families of those who died. During the Rath Yatra, the sibling deities Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath are carried in chariots from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple located 2.6 kms away, where they stay for nine days. This year, the festival began on June 27 and will end on July 5. On Sunday morning, a large number of devotees had gathered at Saradha Bali near the Shree Gundicha Temple to see the deities. Witnesses said that the situation escalated when two trucks carrying wooden logs tried to enter the area amid the crowds. Kishore Satapathy, the chief district medical officer in Puri, told PTI that all the injured persons had been discharged from a government health facility by 8 pm on Sunday.
United News of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Odisha CM, Law Minister must resign for Rath Yatra chaos, mismanagement, demands BJD
Bhubaneswar, June 28 (UNI) Coming down heavily on the BJP-led Odisha Government for the "chaos and glaring mismanagement" during the observance of Rath Yatra at Puri, the Opposition BJD today said Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan should own moral responsibility for the lapses and resign. The BJD also demanded the government must immediately disclose the official number of deceased and injured persons in the stampede that occurred. Stating that this year's Rath Yatra witnessed unprecedented disorder and mismanagement, BJD Vice President Pratap Jena said the spiritual emotions of millions of devotees who travelled from across the country and abroad to witness the divine Trinity have been deeply hurt. The government's assurance of a flawless Rath Yatra turned out to be "nothing more than an empty promise", he said. Pointing out the chaos in observance of the festival of the revered deities, he said Lord Jagannath's Nandighosha chariot did not move an inch until late evening, in "a serious breach of tradition". The chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra too failed to cross the Balagandi Chhak. Despite there being no provision to pull chariots after sunset, the chariot of Lord Jagannath was dragged forward by a few feet at 7:45 PM, only to symbolically fulfill ritual protocol — a move that hurt the religious sentiments of devotees, the senior BJD leader Jena said. Ironically both the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan shied away from the responsibility by casually saying, 'it happened according to the Lord's will.' BJD strongly condemned "such irresponsible statements" and reminded the state government that it is their duty to conduct the Rath Yatra with discipline and dignity. Despite holding valid passes, journalists were denied entry into the cordon zone and were manhandled by police personnel assigned to cordon duty. Nearly seven–eight senior journalists were injured during this incident, he rued. He also stated that even with a large police presence, devotees were left unsafe during the chariot pulling, and the traffic system completely collapsed. With over 1,000 injuries reported, at least eight individuals were admitted to ICU, and reports of two or more deaths have surfaced, he said. He demanded the state government must immediately disclose the official number of deceased and injured persons. BJD further blamed the government's reckless distribution of record-high cordon passes for the chaos. Approximately 10,000 cordon passes were issued this year, many of which were distributed through party workers. Shockingly, two ministers alone issued 6,000 passes, leading to uncontrolled crowds breaching the cordon, significantly delaying the chariot pulling. Before the Yatra began, during the Anasara period, there were reports that a few Modak which were offered to the Lord were stolen. Notably, during last year's Rath Yatra, Lord Balabhadra's idol had fallen during the Pahandi ceremony, an incident that emotionally affected devotees worldwide. Till date, no report has been made public to that effect even after a year. UNI XC RN
Mint
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Puri Rath Yatra: Odisha govt bans non-servitors from climbing chariots, mobile phones
For this year's Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, the Odisha government has banned non-servitors from climbing the chariots. State Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Sunday stringent legal action, including arrests, will be taken against any non-servitor found climbing the chariots during the Yatra. Harichandan also asserted that use of mobile phones on the chariots will be strictly prohibited. "No non-servitor will be allowed to climb the chariots. If any such person is found on the chariot, strong action including arrest will be taken. Also, servitors will not be allowed to carry mobile phones onto the chariots," the minister told reporters. To ensure the timely completion of rituals and maintain discipline during the 'Pahandi Bije' (the ceremonial procession) of the deities, the government has requested a list of servitors designated to perform rituals on Rath Yatra day (June 27). "The final list will be enforced strictly," the minister said. To review the security measures for the Rath Yatra, Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania held a meeting in Bhubaneswar. The road connecting Uttara Square near Bhubaneswar to Puri will be under CCTV surveillance, and efforts are underway to install CCTV cameras along the Puri-Konark road as well, the DGP said. "AI-enabled CCTV cameras are being installed at key locations in Puri for real-time monitoring," he added. Traffic advisories will also be issued from the control room to guide pilgrims and visitors. Besides, a mobile app has been developed through which people will get information about the route through which they will have the convenience to visit Puri during the festival and park their vehicles, he informed. Along with police personnel, Rapid Action Force, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and specialised agencies will be deployed in Puri for the festival, he said, adding: "We have requested the authorities concerned for deployment of central forces." State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja visited Puri on Sunday and took stock of the construction of chariots. "Chariot construction is progressing as per schedule, and I am confident that it will be completed on time," he told reporters.
NDTV
15-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Non-Servitors Banned From Climbing Chariots During Rath Yatra: Odisha Minister
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will take stringent legal action, including arrests, against any non-servitor found climbing the chariots during this year's Rath Yatra in Puri, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Sunday. He also asserted that use of mobile phones on the chariots will be strictly prohibited. Speaking to reporters, Harichandan said, "No non-servitor will be allowed to climb the chariots. If any such person is found on the chariot, strong action including arrest will be taken. Also, servitors will not be allowed to carry mobile phones onto the chariots." To ensure the timely completion of rituals and maintain discipline during the 'Pahandi Bije' (the ceremonial procession) of the deities, the government has requested a list of servitors designated to perform rituals on Rath Yatra day (June 27). "The final list will be enforced strictly," the Minister said. Meanwhile, DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania held a meeting here to review the security measures for the Rath Yatra. The road connecting Uttara Square near Bhubaneswar to Puri will be under CCTV surveillance, and efforts are underway to install CCTV cameras along the Puri-Konark road as well, the DGP said. For the first time, an integrated command and control centre will be set up at the Puri Town Police Station to monitor crowd movement and traffic. "AI-enabled CCTV cameras are being installed at key locations in Puri for real-time monitoring," he said. Traffic advisories will be issued from the control room to guide pilgrims and visitors, he added. Besides, a mobile app has been developed through which people will get information about the route through which they will have the convenience to visit Puri during the festival and park their vehicles, he informed. Along with police personnel, rapid action force, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and specialised agencies will be deployed in Puri for the festival, he said, adding, "We have requested the authorities concerned for deployment of central forces." Drones and an anti-drone system will also be deployed in Puri during the Yatra, he added. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja visited Puri on Sunday and took stock of the construction of chariots. "Chariot construction is progressing as per schedule, and I am confident that it will be completed on time," he told reporters.
