“When will this VIP culture end? Randeep Surjewala slams Odisha Govt over Puri stampede

Bhubaneswar/ Bengaluru, June 30: Congress MP Randeep Surjewala has strongly criticized the Odisha government in the aftermath of the tragic stampede during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, questioning the persistent "VIP syndrome" that he claims led to the incident.

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Expressing his grief over the loss of lives, Surjewala said, “My heartfelt condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones during the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. Reports suggest that the stampede was triggered due to a blockade caused by VIP entry arrangements.”

The incident, which occurred near the Gundicha Temple on Sunday, claimed three lives and left several others injured. In response, the Odisha government has launched an inquiry and announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Surjewala questioned the prioritization of VIP movement over public safety. “When will this VIP culture end? Why must ordinary devotees always suffer due to preferential treatment given to a few?” he asked.

Drawing a parallel with a recent stampede in Bengaluru, Surjewala hit out at BJP leaders for their silence over the Odisha tragedy. “The BJP must reflect on its handling of crowd management failures. Every life lost is valuable—this cannot become a game of political blame or ‘your tragedy versus my tragedy,’” he said.

Calling for systemic reform, the Congress MP proposed the formation of a State Crowd Safety Task Force (SCSTF) in every state, with 50% of the funding contributed by the Union Government. “We must learn from these tragic events and take concrete steps to prevent them in the future. Setting up an SCSTF is the first step in ensuring crowd safety at large-scale events,” he said.

Surjewala emphasized that the time had come for governments to take accountability seriously and to prioritize the safety of all citizens over VIP privileges.