New Delhi, January 30: Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticized both the BJP-led central government and the Uttar Pradesh government for their handling of the tragic stampede at the Mahakumbh, which led to the deaths of at least 30 people and left 60 others injured. He stated, "The BJP cannot shy away from its responsibility. Both the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments are to blame."
Yadav stressed that the incident could have been avoided with better management and urged that the government’s responsibility in the tragedy should not be overlooked. "If the administration had been more efficient, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. There were warnings that a large number of devotees would come to take the holy dip, and it was even mentioned through government channels that officials would undergo management training on-site," Yadav remarked.
He further criticized the inadequate financial compensation for the victims' families, calling the Rs 25 lakh announced by the government insufficient. "This amount is far too low and should be increased," he said. Yadav also called for an official list of the deceased and missing individuals to be published, pointing out the confusion among the public over the situation. "People are confused, and this issue will only be resolved when the government releases an official list," he added.
Yadav recounted receiving information about the incident at 2:48 AM, questioning how the authorities could have been unaware of the situation. He also raised concerns over the distribution of cards and invitations to the event, which he believes may have contributed to the chaos. "If I knew about it at that hour, surely the government did too. It's troubling that they were distributing cards, something that has never been done before. Devotees, many of whom were not invited but came out of faith, ended up becoming victims," he said.
Although Yadav arrived in Delhi to campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, he refrained from visiting the families of the victims. He expressed concern that such a visit could be politicized by the BJP. "I won’t meet the victims’ families because the BJP would accuse me of politicizing the matter. We don’t want to play politics with this tragedy," he stated.
The stampede occurred early on Wednesday during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, claiming the lives of at least 30 people. Of the deceased, four were from Karnataka, one from Assam, and one from Gujarat, according to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna. As of now, 36 injured individuals are being treated at a local medical college. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced Rs 25 lakh in financial assistance for the families of the victims, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. A judicial committee has been tasked with submitting its findings within a set timeframe.
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26. Significant bathing dates remain, including February 3 (Basant Panchami and the Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).
