Lukewarm Response To Puri Bandh Against Cancellation Of Rath Yatra

Puri: The bandh called by two organizations in Puri on Friday in protest against the Supreme Court’s stay order on Rath Yatra evoked lukewarm response in the town.

Most of the shops along the Grand Road opened for business despite the bandh called by Srikhetra Surakhya Bahini and Srijagannath Sena from 6 am. There was not much vehicular movement on the roads in the town which wore deserted look mostly due to the lockdown restrictions.

However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Pilgrim Town on the day.

The two organizations had staged a protest soon after the Supreme Court ordered that the Rath Yatra in Puri or anywhere in Odisha will not be celebrated in public this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the carpenters, who have been engaged in construction of three chariots for the Rath Yatra, have expressed their displeasure over the SC order. They regretted that the court ruling has thrown water on their sincere efforts of staying in quarantine and undergoing COVID-19 tests in order to build the chariots for the Trinity.

Also Read: Puri Seer’s Plea To Supreme Court To Reconsider Order On Rath Yatra