Puri: Jagannath Sena announced for a bandh on Friday after Supreme Court said that Rath Yatra cannot be organised amid the on-going pandemic.
"This is a conspiracy of the state government which is now highlighted. The apex body also did not consider anything and announced its decision. We have called for a Bandh tomorrow and a silent protest will be held," said Priyadarshan Patnaik, Jagannath Sena Convenor.
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the annual Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri. The famous yatra was to start from the Jagannath Temple on June 23. However, now there will be no chariot pulling of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and all other activities associated with the annual program also stand cancelled.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and A.S. Bopanna took the step amid rising cases od the Coronavirus in the country which has already recorded over 3.6 lakh cases.The Chief Justice said such gatherings cannot take place during the ongoing pandemic.
"Lord Jagannath won't forgive us if we allow it,"the court said.
The bench noted that in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, the Rath Yatra festival cannot be allowed this year. The observation from the top court came on a plea by an NGO seeking direction to stay the holding of the Rath Yatra festival, which spans for 10-12 days, and involves the gathering of lakhs of devotees from across the world.
The plea filed by NGO Odisha Vikas Parishad claimed that presently, the entire nation including Odisha is facing an unprecedented situation due to Covid-19, where the lives of the common people are at a huge risk.
Read: No Puri Rath Yatra: SC says Lord Jagannath won't forgive if it were allowed
The plea cited the May 7 letter issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, which granted permission to the state government to carry out the construction of chariots for the conducting of the Rath Yatra subject to the condition that no religious congregation takes place while it is constructed and adherence to stipulations provided in the guideline issued May 1.
"In the said letter, discretion was also granted to the state government with regard to the holding of the Rath Yatra keeping in mind the conditions prevailing at that relevant point of time," said the plea.
"If the Rath Yatra is allowed to happen on June 23, despite state government's prohibition on holding religious gatherings or congregations, lakhs and lakhs of devotees are going to gather for 'darshan' of Lord Shri Jagannath. If such a massive gathering takes place members of the crowd will not be able to maintain adequate distance, which will make them all vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 infection," said the plea. (With inputs from IANS)
