Bhubaneswar, July 17 -- The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday squarely blamed alleged administrative failures by the Odisha Government for the stampede during the Puri Rath Yatra that claimed three lives and left several devotees injured.
The party demanded Rs.20 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased devotee and the best possible medical treatment for those injured.
A BJD delegation, which visited Puri to gather first-hand information on the incident, alleged that the government was more focused on providing security to visiting dignitaries than ensuring the safety of lakhs of ordinary devotees, leading to a tragedy that could have been prevented.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Leader o...