Mahakumbh Arrangements and the Tragic Stampede
The Mahakumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, witnessed a tragic turn on January 29, when a massive stampede led to significant casualties. While official sources reported 30 deaths, opposition leaders have contested the figure, alleging a much higher toll. The event, which draws millions of pilgrims, faced scrutiny over its crowd management and logistical arrangements. The tragedy soon took on a political dimension, with leaders clashing over accountability and transparency in reporting the fatalities.
Sanjay Raut’s Controversial Claim on Death Toll
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stirred controversy in the Rajya Sabha by claiming that 2,000 people had died in the stampede, contradicting the official count. During a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Raut questioned the government’s handling of the crisis and accused officials of suppressing the true death toll.
“When the stampede happened 4-5 days back, it was said it was not a stampede but a rumor… 30 people died. Whether this figure is true? Don’t hide it… The figures that we have seen with our eyes indicate 2,000 people were dead,” Raut asserted.
His remarks led to an uproar among treasury bench members, prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to demand authentication of the claim. Raut agreed to provide supporting evidence by the evening.
Political Fallout: Government vs. Opposition
The controversy deepened when Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also suggested that “thousands” had perished in the stampede. His statement had earlier sparked protests in the Upper House, with the Chairman directing him to retract his comments.
Raut went further, calling the Kumbh a “political event for political marketing” and condemning the government’s focus on elections over governance. He criticized the administration, stating that in other countries, such a mishap would have led to demands for the resignation of top leaders.
BJP MP Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde countered the Opposition’s claims by questioning why similar concerns were not raised about casualties in other religious gatherings, such as those in Ajmer. The political debate intensified, with different parties leveraging the tragedy to support their respective narratives.
BJP Defends Kumbh Arrangements
In response, BJP MP and actor Hema Malini defended the organization of the Mahakumbh, downplaying the severity of the stampede. “We had gone to Kumbh… We had a nice bath… Everything was well managed. It is true that the incident took place, but it was not a very big incident. It is being exaggerated,” she said.
Malini, who participated in the event on January 29, emphasized that managing such a large crowd is inherently difficult but asserted that the administration had done its best.
A Tragedy Amid Political Blame Game
The Mahakumbh stampede has evolved from a tragic incident into a heated political battle. While the government insists on its efficient management of the event, opposition leaders argue that the actual death toll is being concealed. As the debate rages on, the focus on accountability and better crowd management remains critical to prevent such disasters in the future. Whether the government will provide further clarifications or whether the controversy will continue to fuel political tensions remains to be seen.
(With inputs from agencies)
