TNI Bureau: OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das on Friday criticised the BJP government over the management of this year’s Ratha Jatra, alleging that repeated lapses in the festival over the past three years had hurt the sentiments of devotees. Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, he claimed that the government had failed to properly manage one of Odisha’s most important religious events.

Bhakta Das expressed concern over Lord Jagannath being taken to the chariot without the traditional Tahiya during the Pahandi ritual. He said wearing the Tahia during Ratha Jatra and Bahuda Yatra is a long-standing tradition and questioned how such a lapse was allowed. While describing SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee as an honest officer, he said the temple administration should express regret over the incident.

The Congress leader also criticised the government’s crowd management during the festival. He alleged that despite several review meetings and elaborate preparations, crowd-related incidents led to the deaths of devotees and injuries to many others. He said such incidents were a matter of serious concern and called for a thorough review of the arrangements.

Bhakta further demanded action against officials and ministers responsible for the alleged lapses and sought adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and injured devotees. He also called for a detailed inquiry into issues related to the management of the Jagannath Temple. OPCC Media Cell Chairman Arabinda Das, senior spokesperson Advocate Lalatendu Das, and party spokespersons Dr Debasis Bhuyan and Jayashree Patra were present at the press conference.