BJD and Odisha Congress Demand Apology from Delhi CM for Organising Untimely Rath Yatra

The BJD and Odisha Congress criticised the BJP, demanding an apology from Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for organising a Rath Yatra in Delhi on Sunday. This event deviated from the traditional schedule at Puri's Jagannath temple, where it is set for June 27. Gupta participated in the celebration at Kamla Nagar, which drew thousands of devotees.

State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das urged the Delhi Chief Minister to apologise to the people of Odisha for this untimely event. He also called on the BJP to clarify their stance on this matter. "The Delhi Chief Minister should apologise before the people of Odisha for organising untimely Rath Yatra," he stated.

Political Reactions and Criticisms

Senior BJD leader Goutam Buddha Das criticised the BJP for holding the Rath Yatra in Delhi ahead of its traditional date. He questioned why the state BJP leadership had not condemned the incident or cautioned the Delhi CM. "They BJP came to power taking the name of Lord Jagannath. But now, they have organised an untimely Rath Yatra in Delhi and the chief minister inaugurated it," he remarked.

The Congress leader highlighted a past incident involving ISKCON's plan to hold a Rath Yatra in Houston, USA, last November. The titular king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, opposed it, leading to its cancellation due to strong opposition from Lord Jagannath's devotees.

Government's Stance on Unscheduled Events

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan commented on the situation, noting that such an event had never occurred in New Delhi before. "Such an event had never been witnessed in New Delhi before. All major Jagannath temples in Delhi conduct the annual festival as per tradition and schedule fixed by the Puri Jagannath temple," he said.

Harichandan emphasised that whenever unscheduled Rath Yatras are reported, immediate action is taken to halt them. He cited examples from Odisha's Nuapada district and even international locations where such events were stopped. "If someone continues to organise the Rath Yatra untimely even after the request from the government, legal action will be taken," he warned.

The BJD leader accused the BJP of double standards, recalling their strong objection when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee named a temple Jagannath Dham in Digha. He questioned why similar objections were not raised against the Delhi event.

The controversy has sparked a debate over religious traditions and political motives. The opposition parties continue to press for accountability and adherence to traditional practices surrounding Lord Jagannath's celebrations.

With inputs from PTI