Brahma Paribartan fiasco: Congress questions Naveen Patnaik's silence

PURI: The Congress today questioned Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's 'silence' over the alleged mismanagement in Lord Jagannath's 'Brahma Paribartan' ritual and said the truth can be unravelled only by a judicial investigation.

Patnaik's silence on the issue, which has triggered widespread public outcry, is making people suspicious about the role of the BJD government in the entire episode, Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra said.

"A thorough judicial inquiry alone can unravel the truth about the circumstances that caused the inordinate delay in Brahma Paribartan and led to gross mismanagement," the senior Congress leader told reporters here.

The people responsible for undue delay in the sacred and ritual, which was scheduled to be held on the night of June 15 but performed during day time the next day, can be identified through a judicial probe, he said.

Mishra sought to know as to why the state government was yet to order a judicial inquiry into the incident which has severely hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees worldwide.

The Chief Minister used to order judicial inquiries into any incident earlier, he said.

Referring to the allegation of theft of Brahma (life substance), he said such a serious charge must be investigated in an impartial manner to bring the truth to the fore.

If the Chief Minister has some information about the matter, he should come out with a statement to enable the people to know about it, Mishra said.