Bhubaneswar: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Saturday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the Rath Yatra as politically motivated and disconnected from facts. The rebuttal comes in response to Gandhi’s comments during ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ in Bhubaneswar, where he accused the state government of halting the chariot procession for the benefit of industrialist Gautam Adani.
Speaking to the media, Harichandan clarified that the Rath Yatra chariots traditionally reach the Gundicha Temple within two days. This year, he explained, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot veered slightly off its route, leading to a delay in the movement of Nandighosh, the chariot of Lord Jagannath.
“Rahul Gandhi’s statements are baseless and made with political intent. The opposition should refrain from misleading people with fabricated stories that stray from reality,” Harichandan said.
The Law Minister also addressed the sensitive issue of the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury) of Lord Jagannath, which Gandhi had indirectly referenced during his speech. Harichandan informed that repair work on the vault has been completed, and the inventory process will begin soon.
“We’ve sought assistance from the Reserve Bank of India for conducting the inventory. The process is expected to start within the next three months, once official approvals are secured,” he said.
Gandhi, during the Congress’s ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ at Baramunda Ground, had launched a scathing attack on both the Odisha and central governments, alleging crony capitalism and exploitation of public sentiment surrounding religious festivals.
“Crores of people participate in Rath Yatra and pull the chariots, but now a drama is staged where chariots are halted for Adani and his family,” Gandhi said. “This is not an Odisha government, it’s an Adani government, stealing your land, forests, and future.”
He also raised questions on youth employment and industrial accountability, asking how many jobs big corporations have created in Odisha after acquiring land and natural resources.
