Puri Rath Yatra Stampede: Congress demands resignation of Chief Minister and Law Minister
Bhubaneswar, June 29 (UNI) The Odisha Congress today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, holding the state government entirely responsible for the Saradhabali stampede that claimed the lives of three devotees.
A fact-finding team constituted by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das visited Puri and conducted a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that led to the stampede near the three chariots at the Gundicha Temple.
The team comprising former PCC President Prasad Harichandan, former Minister Jagannath Patnaik, PCC Vice President Santosh Singh Saluja, and former Minister Nagendra Pradhan visited the District Headquarters Hospital to assess the condition and treatment of those injured in the incident.
The members expressed shock and sorrow upon learning that two seriously injured patients—whose legs were completely severed—were discharged without receiving adequate medical treatment.
Reiterating their demands, the Congress team called for special compensation of Rs.50 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs.25 lakh for those seriously injured.
Holding the state government wholly accountable for the tragedy, the team asserted that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Law Minister should step down on moral grounds, as the responsibility for managing the Rath Yatra rested with them.
The PCC team submitted its report to Pradesh Congress President Bhakta Charan Das.
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