BJP MP Hema Malini downplayed the Mahakumbh stampede on Tuesday, asserting that it was not a highly significant event. She also commended the Uttar Pradesh government for effectively overseeing the large-scale occasion.
“We attended Kumbh, and we had a very pleasant bath. It is true that an incident occurred, but it was not a very major incident. I am not sure how serious it was. It is being blown out of proportion. It was extremely well-organized, and everything was handled very well. So many individuals are coming, it is quite challenging to manage, but we are doing our utmost,” the BJP MP told ANI.
The unfortunate stampede took place during the second Shahi Snan on Mouni Amavasya at the Mahakumbh, leading to at least 30 fatalities and about 60 injuries.
The event has faced significant criticism from opposition leaders, who have challenged the government’s management of the situation during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ceremony.
Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes BJP in Lok Sabha
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, addressing the Lok Sabha, charged the government with hiding the true death toll from the Mahakumbh disaster.
“For the Mahakumbh tragedy, there must be strict punitive measures against those who are accountable and those who have concealed the truth should be penalized. We question the double-engine government, if there was no wrongdoing, then why were the figures concealed, hidden, and erased? ” he stated.
He also claimed that officials had to utilize earth movers to gather the bodies.
“The government is persistently announcing budget figures; please also provide the numbers of those who perished in the Kumbh. The statistics for the fatalities in the Maha Kumbh incident, treatment of the injured, availability of medicines, doctors, food, water, and transport should be presented in Parliament,” he added.