Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has come in for sharp criticism over mishaps during rituals in major temples of the State.
Opposition BJD and Congress alleged mismanagement by temple authorities during festivals in Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri and Shri Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
Notably, a servitor fell from a height of 20 feet while carrying the Mahadeep (burning lamp) to the top of the 11th-century Lingaraj temple on Wednesday. Three persons were also injured in the accident.
In July last year, at least nine servitors of the Puri Jagannath temple were injured when the idol of Lord Balabhadra fell on them while it was being taken out from the chariot to a temple as part of the Rath Yatra festival.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty charged the state administration with remaining busy with VIPs only, rather than ensuring that festivals are conducted without mishaps.
Mohanty said that the state government is yet to make its inquiry report public on how the idol of Lord Balabhadra fell.
Newly appointed state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das alleged the BJP government has twice hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
He asked the state government to issue a white paper on both the mishaps that hurt the sentiment of lakhs of devotees in the state and outside.
Das, who visited the injured servitor at a hospital, claimed that the people were not satisfied with the government’s management of the affairs in this regard.
However, BJP MLA Babu Singh said the opposition leaders should refrain from indulging in politicising the matter.
He said the Bhubaneswar mayor, who belongs to the BJD is also part of the administration and she was present in the temple all day during the Shivratri festival, but did not rectify had there been any error.
