New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – The tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 injured, led to a stormy debate in both Houses of Parliament on Monday. While the Opposition, led by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded transparency and a list of the deceased, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hinted at a possible conspiracy behind the incident.
"Everyone was shocked when the Leader of Opposition said thousands have been killed. Outrageous, outlandish," Dhankhar remarked, directing Kharge to provide evidence for his statement.
Kharge later clarified that his remark was an estimate and asked the government to present the official figures. “I will apologize if I am wrong. But at least provide the correct data on how many died and how many are missing,” he asserted.
“These people trusted the government to ensure their safety, but tragically, no one protected them,” she said, also alleging that the government's governance style has led to societal divisions.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel held the Uttar Pradesh government responsible for the tragedy, questioning why authorities had not adequately prepared for the large gathering.
“The Kumbh Mela was not struck by a natural disaster. It was a glaring example of administrative failure,” he said, demanding an official list of the deceased.
The opposition also disrupted proceedings during the Question Hour, pressing for an immediate discussion on the tragedy.
“There was a tragedy at the Maha Kumbh, and an investigation is underway. We do smell a conspiracy here. Once the probe is complete, those responsible will have to hang their heads in shame,” he said.
“Millions of Hindus had prepared for the Maha Kumbh, and many poor devotees saved money for Mauni Amavasya. Yet, the president’s speech contained only 61 words about this tragedy. There was no condemnation of the deaths, nor condolences for the victims’ families,” she said.
She also pointed to alleged discrepancies in the official death toll. “The number of bodies in morgues doesn’t match the reported figures of the deceased and missing. This is reminiscent of the data manipulation we saw during the COVID-19 crisis,” she claimed.
As the political storm over the Maha Kumbh tragedy rages on, the nation waits for clarity on what exactly went wrong on that fateful day.
Kharge’s Statement Sparks Uproar in Rajya Sabha
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to what he initially referred to as the "thousands" who perished in the January 29 stampede during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya. His remark triggered sharp protests from the treasury benches, prompting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to demand authentication of his claim."Everyone was shocked when the Leader of Opposition said thousands have been killed. Outrageous, outlandish," Dhankhar remarked, directing Kharge to provide evidence for his statement.
Kharge later clarified that his remark was an estimate and asked the government to present the official figures. “I will apologize if I am wrong. But at least provide the correct data on how many died and how many are missing,” he asserted.
Lok Sabha Witnesses Heated Exchanges
In the Lok Sabha, opposition parties strongly criticized the government for its handling of the incident. DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh of failing to protect the devotees.“These people trusted the government to ensure their safety, but tragically, no one protected them,” she said, also alleging that the government's governance style has led to societal divisions.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel held the Uttar Pradesh government responsible for the tragedy, questioning why authorities had not adequately prepared for the large gathering.
“The Kumbh Mela was not struck by a natural disaster. It was a glaring example of administrative failure,” he said, demanding an official list of the deceased.
The opposition also disrupted proceedings during the Question Hour, pressing for an immediate discussion on the tragedy.
BJP Alleges Conspiracy
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking in the Lok Sabha, suggested that the stampede could be part of a larger plot.“There was a tragedy at the Maha Kumbh, and an investigation is underway. We do smell a conspiracy here. Once the probe is complete, those responsible will have to hang their heads in shame,” he said.
TMC Criticizes Government's Response
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar condemned the government’s handling of the tragedy, criticizing President Droupadi Murmu’s address for barely mentioning the incident.“Millions of Hindus had prepared for the Maha Kumbh, and many poor devotees saved money for Mauni Amavasya. Yet, the president’s speech contained only 61 words about this tragedy. There was no condemnation of the deaths, nor condolences for the victims’ families,” she said.
She also pointed to alleged discrepancies in the official death toll. “The number of bodies in morgues doesn’t match the reported figures of the deceased and missing. This is reminiscent of the data manipulation we saw during the COVID-19 crisis,” she claimed.
Opposition Demands Government Accountability
With tempers running high, the opposition collectively held the government responsible for the tragic incident and demanded an official report. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government maintains that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the stampede and address concerns raised by the opposition.As the political storm over the Maha Kumbh tragedy rages on, the nation waits for clarity on what exactly went wrong on that fateful day.
