Opposition alleges Kumbh stampede cover-up, seeks all-party meet

Opposition leaders in Parliament demanded an all-party meeting to review the arrangements for the Maha Kumbh, alleging that the government is concealing the actual death toll from the stampede. They criticized the administration for mishandling the situation, raising concerns about inadequate disaster management and traditional rituals being disrupted.

NEW DELHI: Opposition members raised the Maha Kumbh stampede in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanding an all-party meeting to review the arrangements and alleging that the govt was hiding the casualty figures . In the Rajya Sabha, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and TMC questioned the number of deaths in the stampede on Jan 29 with Sanjay Raut alleging that "2,000 people died". Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha, Yadav said a discussion should be held on Kumbh preparations, treatment of injured, availability of medicines, doctors, food, water, transport and disaster management.

He said when the stampede happened, seers were asked to postpone the 'amrit snan' which is performed at the unique alignment of planets. "The govt ordered seers to put off their 'snan' and broke with the traditions of sanatana dharma. When there was a hue and cry, the govt ordered them to re-commence the 'snan', forgetting that the holy bath has to be taken at a specific time or mahurat," Yadav said.

He claimed that earth movers and tractor trolleys were used to clear bodies lying around after the stampede. In the RS, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Raut alleged that "2,000 people died" in the stampede. "When the stampede happened 4-5 days back, it was told (that) it was not stampede but a rumour .

.. 30 people died.

Is the figure true? We are responsible even if one person died. The figures that we have seen with our eyes is 2,000 people were dead," he said. As treasury members protested, deputy chairman Harivansh told Raut, "If you mention any figure, you have to substantiate.

" The MP agreed to authenticate the figure by the evening. Congress's Ranjeet Ranjan said a cover-up was orchestrated to hide the actual number of deaths while Trinamool Congress's Sagarika Ghose criticised the VIP culture at Kumbh. BJP's Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde hit back at the opposition and questioned why similar concerns were not raised about casualties in Ajmer.

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