Congress calls Odisha bandh on June 26

Bhubaneswar, Jun 24: Accusing BJD government of failing to act against those responsible for mismanagement in Lord Jagannath's Brahma Paribartan, the Congress today called for Odisha bandh on June 26.

"A dawn-to-dusk bandh will be observed on June 26 in protest against state government's failure to take action against those responsible for Brahma Paribartan fiasco," Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Prasad Harichandan told reporters here.

Stating that essential services and educational institutions would be exempted from the proposed bandh on June 26, he said Congress would also observe fast on that day.

Claiming that the inquiry being undertaken by Sri Jagannath Temple Administration was only an eyewash, the OPCC chief demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the entire episode by a sitting High Court judge.

Blaming Naveen Patnaik Government for utter chaos and undue delay in Brahma Paribartan ritual on June 15, he alleged that the ruling BJD encouraged and patronised indiscipline during the sacred and secret ceremony for vote bank politics.

Deviation in the sacred rituals had hurt sentiments of lakhs of Jagannath devotees, Harichandan said adding Gajapati of Puri Divyasingha Deb has also expressed anguish over the mismanagement in Brahma Paribartan, which is an important part of Nabakalebar festival.

The OPCC president recalled that the party had already demanded resignation of the chief minister and removal of the chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration.

Expressing concern over preparation for Nabakalebar festival, the Congress leader said most of the work remained incomplete though less than a month is left for Lord Jagannath's Ratha Yatra next month.

Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also condemned mismanagement during Brahma Paribartan ritual and announced its decision to stage state-wide agitation tomorrow.

"Mass Dharna will be held in all state headquarters in protest against the fiasco which had hurt the sentiments of all devotees," VHP state spokesperson Pramod Kumar Das said in a statement.

PTI