The management of the Maha Kumbh should be immediately handed over to the army, says Samajwadi Party supremo
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has strongly condemned the management for the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which has reportedly claimed 15 lives so far.
Targeting the Yogi Adityanath government in the state in the aftermath of the stampede on Wednesday, the Samajwadi leader highlighted the failure of the state machinery.
Yadav demanded that those who claimed “world-class arrangements” in the Maha Kumbh should resign from their posts taking moral responsibility for the stampede.
Taking to X, the SP supremo wrote in Hindi that the administration and management of the Maha Kumbh should be immediately handed over to the army to re-establish faith in the system among the saint community and devotees.
“Now that the truth of the claims of making a “world-class system” has come out in front of everyone, those who were claiming and spreading false propaganda about it should resign from their posts taking moral responsibility for the people killed in the incident,” Yadav said.
Multiple casualties took place as a stampede broke out at the Sangam as crores of pilgrims turned up for a ‘holy bath’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya’, the most significant ritual at the Maha Kumbh.
Showing his concern over the death of innocent devotees, Yadav called on the Uttar Pradesh government to take immediate action to support the injured and prevent further chaos.
Air ambulances should be deployed to transport those seriously injured, he said, and called for “swift arrangements to identify the deceased and return their bodies to their families.” He also appealed to the devotees to remain patient and maintain calm during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, UP Congress president Ajay Rai expressed grief over the stampede and said, “The news of many people being killed and injured due to the stampede on the day of bathing on Mauni Amavasya in Mahakumbh is painful,” reports PTI.
Targeting the state government, Rai said, “This tragic incident highlights the chaos of this fair and the failures of the Uttar Pradesh government. The Yogi government spent all the money only on its branding and marketing and not on the arrangements for the devotees who came to the Maha Kumbh. This shows the insensitivity of this government.”
In a statement UP Congress chief said, “We were constantly trying to alert about such incidents but the government and administration did not pay heed to it. I have deep condolences for the families of the victims of the accident. We pray for the peace of the souls of the deceased and speedy recovery of the injured.”
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede in Maha Kumbh. She urged the government to arrange for proper compensation for the deceased and free treatment for the injured.