The latest headlines bring a mix of political clashes and unfortunate events. A tragic stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, has claimed the lives of three devotees and injured dozens more. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, a controversy is brewing within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as Kalyan Banerjee's disparaging remarks against Mahua Moitra have sparked outrage.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra, a revered Hindu festival, was marred by a stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri. The incident occurred early Sunday morning as a massive crowd of devotees gathered for darshan, the viewing of the deities. According to officials, the tragedy unfolded when the morning rituals, known as pahada bhanga, commenced, drawing a sudden surge of devotees eager to catch a glimpse of the deities atop the chariots. The crowd swelled in front of Lord Jagannath's chariot, Nandighosa, resulting in people falling over each other in the chaos. Three people died on the spot. These include two women, Prabhati Das and Basanti Sahu, and 78-year-old Premakant Mohanty. Ten others were injured, with some in critical condition following the stampede. Puri Collector Sidharth Shankar Swain confirmed the deaths and reported that six injured individuals were admitted to the Puri district headquarters hospital, with three subsequently discharged.
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes and criticized the inadequate crowd control measures, especially given the large overnight congregation of pilgrims. Some reports suggest that the situation spiraled out of control when the pahada bhanga ritual commenced. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has criticized the state government for failing to manage the crowd effectively, while senior servitors have expressed grief and urged the administration to improve arrangements to prevent future incidents. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the stampede, focusing on potential lapses in crowd control.
In West Bengal, internal strife within the TMC has surfaced following controversial remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee regarding the Kolkata law student gangrape case. Banerjee's comments, including a "honeymoon" jibe directed at fellow MP Mahua Moitra, have ignited a firestorm of criticism and widened the rift between the two leaders. The tensions escalated after Moitra indirectly criticized Banerjee's "avoid bad company" remark concerning the gangrape victim. In response, Banerjee launched a personal attack on Moitra, referencing her recent marriage and accusing her of "breaking a family". He said Moitra has come back to India after completing her honeymoon, and after coming back to India, she has started fighting against him. He also accused her of breaking up a family and marrying a 65-year-old guy.
The TMC leadership has attempted to distance itself from the remarks made by both Banerjee and another party leader, MLA Madan Mitra, stating that their comments were made in their personal capacities and that the party unequivocally disassociates itself from them. However, the incident has drawn condemnation from opposition parties, with the BJP accusing the TMC of being a "party of rape-sympathizers, rape enablers, and serial offenders". The rape of the law student has presented a significant challenge for the Mamata Banerjee government, particularly with upcoming elections on the horizon. The main accused in the case, Manojit Mishra, has been arrested along with two others and is reportedly linked to the TMC youth wing.
