BJP Slams Odisha Govt ‘Silence’ On Rath Yatra

Bhubaneswar: The BJP on Wednesday came down heavily on the silence of the Odisha government on the ensuing Rath Yatra in Puri slated for June 23.

Talking to the media here, BJP leader Bijoy Mahapatra said of the three petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, two among them to either cancel or postpone Rath Yatra while the third petition has urged the apex court to grant permission to hold the annual festival.

“People and Jagannath temple sevayats suspect that the state government has sponsored the two petitions to stop the Rath Yatra. Besides, the contradictory statements by the officials concerned and the BJD leaders have further strengthened their doubts. What is more surprising is that the BJD leaders are giving statements on behalf of these officials. Instead of keeping the people in the doldrums, the state government should immediately make a statement on it,” Mahapatra said.

On Orissa High Court’s suggestion for using heavy machinery or elephants to pull the chariots, the BJP leader said there are not required as the sevayats and policemen can easily pull the 220-feet long rope of the three chariots.