lucky time Akhilesh Yadav Blames BJP Govt For Mahakumbh Stampede, Demands List Of Deceased

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh for the stampede that occurred at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday night. 

Yadav accused the government of hiding its failures and mismanaging the event, which led to the deaths of at least 30 people and left 60 others injured.

The tragedy took place around 2 am during the Mauni Amavasya bath at the Kumbh Mela, one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. A large crowd, which had gathered to take a holy dip at the ghats, broke through barriers, causing the stampede. Many had been waiting overnight for the auspicious moment, and chaos ensued as people were trampled in the rush.

The Mela administration confirmed the fatalities nearly 18 hours later, holding a brief press conference to announce the death toll and the number of injuries. A judicial inquiry into the incident has been ordered, but Yadav was quick to point out that the delay in providing accurate information raised questions about the government's accountability.

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In a statement, the Samajwadi Party leader said, “The stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj happened due to the government's mistake. The BJP government is hiding its failure. It is not revealing the correct number of people who lost their lives in the stampede... so that it does not have to pay compensation. This is the government's insensitivity.”

Yadav also slammed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing him of lying about the incident. “Now even saints and religious leaders are speaking openly about the mismanagement at the Maha Kumbh and the lies of the government. Saints and seers are also saddened by the lies of the chief minister. The government is lying. The families are worried for their loved ones,” he stated.

The SP leader went on to claim that the BJP and Chief Minister Adityanath had lost the trust of the common people. “This is their moral defeat. When saints and seers are also saying that the chief minister is a liar, then what can be a bigger defeat for him?” Yadav said.

Yadav further accused the government of failing to properly manage the Kumbh Mela, which had seen an estimated 40 to 45 crore people invited to participate. He demanded the release of complete information on the missing and deceased so that families could be informed and closure could be provided.

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“A list should be released so that the worried and grieving family members can get the correct information. Along with this, the government should make arrangements to send all the bodies to their homes in a dignified manner,” he added.

The SP chief also criticised the government's earlier claims of world-class arrangements for the Mela, noting that despite these promises, the event had resulted in a major disaster. “The government had distributed invitations for the Maha Kumbh. It was said that 40 to 45 crore people will be allowed to take baths. It was claimed that world-class arrangements would be made. What were the arrangements when the invitations were given?” Yadav questioned, emphasising that even now, large numbers of people and vehicles remain stranded on the roads.

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