Bhubaneswar: Newsroom, a digital platform, celebrated its first anniversary with the ‘Divine Puri Conclave’ at the Taj Vivanta hotel at Patrapada in Bhubaneswar.
The event, organised by Newsroom’s founder-editor Manaranjan Mishra and founder-CEO Priyadarshi Bal, saw the participation of several dignitaries who discussed the potential of tourism economy development in Odisha, particularly in the context of the Rath Yatra festival.
During the first session, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, Congress state president Bhakta Das, and BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra shared their views on the current political situation and the development of tourism in the state. The session was moderated by Newsroom’s founder-editor Manoranjan Mishra.
The event saw the participation of several experts, including Spiritual Guru Swami Shradhanand Saraswati, Professor of IIM Lucknow Satyabhusan Das, Lawyer Mrinalini Pati, BJP MLA Siddhant Mahapatra, senior journalist Rajaram Satpathy, Advisor and Political Analyst Tapan Chand, Economist Rajeev Shekhar Sahu, Stock Market Expert and Founder-CEO Priyadarshi Bal.
The experts shared their insights on how the festival can be leveraged to promote tourism and economic development in the state. Also, they discussed the potential of Puri Rath Yatra in attracting tourists and generating revenue for the state. They also shared their views on how the festival can be promoted and developed to benefit the local economy and communities.
IIM professor Satyabhusan Das highlighted the potential of Puri’s Rath Yatra in boosting the state’s economy. Das, who has conducted research on the Kumbh Mela, said that the festival can play a significant role in promoting tourism, trade, and economic development in Odisha.
According to Das, the Kumbh Mela, which attracts millions of devotees and tourists, has created a huge market for local traders and small businesses. He said that similarly, Puri Rath Yatra can contribute to the state’s economic development by promoting local handicrafts, art, and products.
Research conducted by Das on the Kumbh Mela has shown how the festival has helped promote local products and handicrafts, both nationally and internationally. He believes that Puri Rath Yatra can similarly benefit from the influx of tourists and devotees, and that it can be leveraged to promote Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and economic potential.
Guests highlighted that just like the 45-day Mahakumbh, which generated massive revenue and employment opportunities in transportation, infrastructure development, and various businesses, Rath Yatra in Puri can also unlock economic potential and create jobs for locals.
Attending the event, Congress state president Bhakta Das has demanded justice for Soumyashree Bisi. Das claimed that the state government, led by Mohan Majhi, is responsible for Soumyashree’s death due to its failure to take action on her complaints. The Congress leader demanded a judicial probe into the incident, overseen by a sitting judge of the High Court, and called for the resignation of the Higher Education Minister, Balasore MP, and Balasore MLA. The party has also demanded action against the SP, alleging negligence in handling the case.
BJP state president Manmohan Samal stated that the ruling government has not intentionally made mistakes, and that humans are prone to errors. One who makes the same mistake twice should not be forgiven. The government has not made any mistakes.
“After the investigation report comes out, the public will see whether the government takes action or not”, said Samal, emphasising that the law is supreme, and those who are guilty will be punished.
Samal also highlighted the BJP’s commitment to development, citing examples of potential projects that could be undertaken in Odisha, such as providing drinking water, building 75,000 km of roads, increasing irrigation from 12% to 90%, and utilising seawater. He also expressed confidence that the BJP government would take strong action in the recent Balasore incident and provide justice to the victim’s family. Samal criticised the opposition parties for calling for an Odisha bandh, saying that it is their right to protest, but the BJP will not be intimidated.
BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said that the recent incident will certainly impact tourism, but emphasised that Puri is a hub for culture and spirituality, and development is needed in all areas of Jagannath Dham. He highlighted the BJD government’s efforts to develop Puri during its rule. Regarding the four-gate closure, he explained that it was a temporary measure to control the crowd and that the BJP’s claims were baseless and fuelled by misinformation. Mishra also mentioned that the Prime Minister’s comments on Puri had created a narrative, but the gates were closed only temporarily.
Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi highlighted the development work done in Odisha, including the ₹6,000 crore capital ring road project, the development of the Nayagarh-Puri Jagannath road, and the construction of a railway overbridge at Niakrapur. She emphasised the government’s commitment to providing basic amenities like pucca houses, drinking water, gas connections, toilets, electricity, and roads to all households.
“What happened in Balasore shouldn’t have happened. What happened in Bhubaneswar shouldn’t have happened. What happened in Puri shouldn’t have happened either. We have four years left on our hands, and we will rectify these mistakes. We have to learn from each mistake,” she maintained.
She highlighted the BJP’s commitment to accountability and ensuring the safety and security of women, and noted that while politics can be challenging, the party is working to strengthen governance and administration.
