Bhubaneswar: Orissa Chief Minister Naveeen Patnaik announced Justice Mohanty commission would inquiry in to missing Nagarjun Vesha stampede report.

The controversy over the “missing” commission of inquiry report on the stampede that had taken place at Puri Jagannath Temple on 26 November, 1993 had erupted when the latest stampede on 4 November 2006 took place.

With allegations of administrative failure being hurled at the government, several people questioned as to what it had done on the recommendations made by the judicial commission which had probed the 1993 stampede incident. The issue had figured in the Assembly and a few ruling party members had pointed an accusing finger at Congress leader Mr JB Patnaik saying the 1993 probe report was submitted when he was the CM.

Mr JB Patnaik had countered saying it is normal practice for any commission to submit the report to the CM but the CM does not take it home. It has to be with the government, law and home department. The Congress leader also rebuffed the treasury bench members saying in 1993 Biju Patnaik was the CM and therefore there was no reason for a Congress government to hide the report.
Seeking to put the entire controversy to rest, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today requested the Justice Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty commission, which has been asked to probe the 4 November 2006 stampede at the temple, to include loss of the 1993 incident report under its purview of enquiry. The CM said he has made the request keeping the sensitivity of the issue and the special significance of Puri Jagannath temple.