New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan on Tuesday accused the BJP-led government of orchestrating a cover-up to conceal the actual number of casualties in the recent Maha Kumbh stampede. Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, Ranjan criticized the government, alleging that it manipulates public sentiment for political gain.
Expressing solidarity with the grief acknowledged by President Droupadi Murmu over the tragic incident, Ranjan stated, "I am not here to criticize, but it would have been better if Parliament and the nation were taken into confidence about the real number of people who lost their lives."
She further pointed out that previous Congress-led governments had transparently disclosed the exact death tolls from past Kumbh Melas, urging the current administration to follow suit. "Why are you hiding the numbers? Your government plays with people's emotions to stay in power, which is deeply saddening," she remarked.
"The government has hidden the true scale of deaths at the Maha Kumbh. Mark my words, a movie will be made on this. For several hours, bodies were stored secretly, later declared as ‘injured’ at hospitals, and then quietly disposed of. Families were coerced into signing documents stating their loved ones died of natural causes rather than in the stampede. This is a disgrace to all of us," she asserted.
Fauzia Khan of the NCP-SCP voiced concerns over corruption weakening the nation’s institutional framework, while GK Vasan of TMC (M) praised the President’s speech for outlining a growth-oriented roadmap benefiting the poor, middle class, and farmers.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal raised concerns over the rupee's depreciation and increasing dependency on Chinese imports, despite the government’s push for self-reliance. He also claimed that unemployment remains a pressing issue, asserting that "every second youth in the country is jobless."
The debate underscored deep political divides as opposition leaders continued to press the government for transparency and accountability over the Maha Kumbh stampede tragedy.
Expressing solidarity with the grief acknowledged by President Droupadi Murmu over the tragic incident, Ranjan stated, "I am not here to criticize, but it would have been better if Parliament and the nation were taken into confidence about the real number of people who lost their lives."
She further pointed out that previous Congress-led governments had transparently disclosed the exact death tolls from past Kumbh Melas, urging the current administration to follow suit. "Why are you hiding the numbers? Your government plays with people's emotions to stay in power, which is deeply saddening," she remarked.
Allegations of a Coordinated Cover-Up
Ranjan made a serious claim that a systematic effort was made to suppress the actual death toll. She alleged that deceased bodies were initially kept locked in a room for hours before being transported to hospitals under the guise of being ‘injured’ victims."The government has hidden the true scale of deaths at the Maha Kumbh. Mark my words, a movie will be made on this. For several hours, bodies were stored secretly, later declared as ‘injured’ at hospitals, and then quietly disposed of. Families were coerced into signing documents stating their loved ones died of natural causes rather than in the stampede. This is a disgrace to all of us," she asserted.
Counterarguments and Other Concerns Raised
BJP (Nominated) MP Gulam Ali, however, downplayed the controversy, highlighting that stampedes have historically occurred at various religious gatherings, including past Kumbh Melas and even in Mecca-Madina. "It is unfortunate that such tragedies are being used for political gains," he said.Fauzia Khan of the NCP-SCP voiced concerns over corruption weakening the nation’s institutional framework, while GK Vasan of TMC (M) praised the President’s speech for outlining a growth-oriented roadmap benefiting the poor, middle class, and farmers.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal raised concerns over the rupee's depreciation and increasing dependency on Chinese imports, despite the government’s push for self-reliance. He also claimed that unemployment remains a pressing issue, asserting that "every second youth in the country is jobless."
The debate underscored deep political divides as opposition leaders continued to press the government for transparency and accountability over the Maha Kumbh stampede tragedy.
