BJD, Odisha Congress Criticise BJP Over Untimely ‘Rath Yatra’ Attended By Delhi CM

The recent organization of “Rath Yatra” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of its scheduled date of June 27, 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition BJD and Odisha Unit of Congress. An official apology has been demanded from the Delhi Chief minister Rekha Gupta over this “untimely” organization of the yatra  in the national capital two days ago. 

The grand Rath Yatra celebration was held at Kamla Nagar in Delhi on Sunday, which drew thousands of devotees, marking a clear deviation from the traditional practice of conducting the yatra at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. 

Adding to this, the celebration was also attended by the Chief Minister of Delhi.

While addressing the media on Monday, state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said, “The Delhi Chief Minister should apologise before the people of Odisha for organising the untimely Rath Yatra.” He further urged the BJP to seek an explanation from the chief minister and issue a clarification to the people of Odisha on this matter.

Accusing the BJP of insulting Lord Jagannath and his devotees, the Congress leader asked, “Is the BJP’s devotion to Lord Jagannath real or drama?”

The Congress leader said the titular king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, did not like it when ISKCON planned to organise Rath Yatra in Houston, USA, in November last year.

Faced with stiff opposition from the devotees of Lord Jagannath, ISKCON cancelled the event.

Senior BJD leader Goutam Buddha Das also criticised the BJP for the "untimely" Rath Yatra held in Delhi.

Accusing the BJP of hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Jagannath devotees, he asked, “Why is the state BJP leadership not condemning the incident? Why are they not cautioning the Delhi CM?” 

The BJD leader added  "When West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee named a temple Jagannath Dham (in Digha), the BJP leaders strongly objected. Now they are showing double standards."

“They (BJP) came to power taking the name of Lord Jagannath. But now, they have organised an untimely Rath Yatra in Delhi and the chief minister inaugurated it,” he said.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan commented on the situation noting that such an incident had never occured in New Delhi before. “Such an event had never been witnessed in New Delhi before. All major Jagannath temples in Delhi conduct the annual festival as per tradition and schedule fixed by the Puri Jagannath temple,” he said. 

Whenever holding of an untimely Rath Yatra comes to the notice of the Odisha government, immediate steps are taken to stop that, he added.

Such programmes were stopped in Odisha's Nuapada district, and even in foreign countries, Harichandan said.

He further remarked that if the Rath yatra continues to be organised unscheduled, despite the request from the government, appropriate legal action will be taken.