CM Adityanath counters Opposition’s ‘VIP bathing’ charge at Maha Kumbh: 'Some people are trying to…'

Yogi Adityanath

Addressing an event on the 57th death anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath countered claims of VIP-exclusive bathing at the Maha Kumbh, asserting that it is a festival of faith and unity where devotees come together by removing the barriers of caste, religion, language and region.

“Who are these people spreading negativity? These are the same people who took VVIP treatment from the government throughout their lives and tried to pave a path for their future generations. These are people who stand against India and Sanatan Dharma by creating negativity and spreading false propaganda,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister’s statement comes amid allegations by Opposition of "VIP culture" and "mismanagement" against the Uttar Pradesh government after a tragic stampede in Prayagraj on January 29, which resulted in the deaths of at least 30 devotees.

"In Prayagraj, 45 crore devotees have taken the dip of faith in the Sangam in 29 days, which is historic. Other than India and China, no country in the world has a population of 45 crore. What can be bigger than 45 crore devotees coming to take a dip in a temporary city?” asked Adityanath.

“Some people are trying to spread confusion by linking it to VIP bathing, but the truth is that Maha Kumbh is a confluence of harmony and faith, where all devotees join together by eliminating the discriminations of caste, religion, language and region,” he added.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held mismanagement and administrative negligence responsible for the tragedy at Maha Kumbh, accusing officials of focusing more on VIP arrangements than on safeguarding ordinary pilgrims.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav had stated that pilgrims arriving at the Maha Kumbh Mela were struggling for basic amenities like drinking water, food, and shelter. He had also pointed towards other mismanagement adding troubles for the common people -- including that senior citizens were forced to walk for several kilometres adding to their trouble.

After the tragic stampede, the party MP Jaya Bachchan had said that the water at Maha Kumbh is "contaminated" because the bodies of people who died in the January 29 stampede were thrown into the river.