The Odisha unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) has called for the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, holding them accountable for the tragic stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri.
The incident, which claimed lives and left several devotees injured, has sparked outrage over alleged administrative failures.
A fact-finding team constituted by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das visited Puri to assess the situation. Led by former PCC President Prasad Harichandan, the team included former ministers Jagannath Pattnaik, Santosh Singh Saluja, and Nagendra Pradhan. The group inspected the stampede site near Gundicha Temple, offered prayers at the Jagannath Temple, and visited the Puri District Hospital to evaluate the condition of the injured.
The team expressed dismay over the lack of adequate medical care, noting that two critically injured individuals with severe leg fractures were discharged prematurely without proper treatment. “The government’s efforts seem focused on covering up the incident rather than ensuring justice and care for the victims,” the team stated in its report. They criticised the state administration for failing to manage the festival, a globally revered event, and accused it of neglecting the injured while announcing superficial measures to deflect responsibility.
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The Congress reiterated its demand for ₹50 lakh as ex gratia for the families of the deceased and ₹25 lakh for those seriously injured. The team held the government fully responsible, emphasising that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Law Minister, entrusted with overseeing the event, must resign on moral grounds. “Mere announcements of action are not enough. The government must answer for its failure,” the team asserted.
The PCC team also questioned the transparency of the investigation promised by the Law Minister, who announced a probe to be completed within a month. “Who will conduct this investigation, and how will it be carried out? The government’s silence on these details raises doubts about its intentions,” the team remarked. They demanded that the inquiry be led by an acting District Judge within 10 days of the Niladri Bije festival, with actionable outcomes based on the findings.
Puri Fiasco: Youth Congress Marches for CM, Minister Resignations
Bhubaneswar, June 29, 2025: The Odisha Youth Congress, led by President Ranjit Patra, staged a protest march from AG Square to the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and Law Minister. The demonstration condemned the alleged mismanagement of the Puri Rath Yatra, which resulted in a tragic stampede, claiming three lives and injuring over 50 devotees.
Patra criticised the “double engine” government for its negligent handling, despite deploying 275 AI cameras and 10,000 police personnel. He questioned the absence of a Rath Yatra coordination committee and the abrupt opening of temple gates, which triggered the chaos. Allegations surfaced that 10,000 passes were distributed to BJP workers, sidelining devotees, and the chariot was halted for industrialist Gautam Adani’s participation, drawing further ire.
The protest turned chaotic, with police detaining Youth Congress leaders after a half-hour scuffle. Patra condemned the government’s actions, including an alleged attack on journalists, stating that the mismanagement hurt Jagannath devotees’ sentiments globally.
