‘Kumbh is meaningless’: RJD chief Lalu Prasad courts controversy after New Delhi stampede

Prasad also slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the incident at New Delhi railway station and demanded resignation of the railway minister.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday stirred controversy by calling the Maha Kumbh “meaningless” while blaming the Railways for the stampede in New Delhi that left 18 dead.

At least 18 people were killed and over a dozen injured in the stampede that erupted late Saturday night at the crowded New Delhi railway station. Authorities were yet to confirm the exact number of casualties and injured from Bihar.

The Railways said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the "unfortunate incident". President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives.

"The stampede episode is very disturbing; it has exposed the inadequate arrangements made by the central government. The railway minister must resign after this incident, it's a complete failure of the Railways," he asserted.

At least 18 people were killed and over a dozen injured in the stampede that erupted late Saturday night at the crowded New Delhi railway station. Authorities were yet to confirm the exact number of casualties and injured from Bihar.

Reacting to the remarks, Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma said it has exposed the RJD's mindset towards the Hindu religion. "He is making such comments due to his politics of appeasement. The RJD leaders have always insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus." "The latest statement of Lalu Prasad calling the Maha Kumbh meaningless exposes the party's mindset towards the Hindu religion," Sharma claimed.

A two-member committee constituted to probe the deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station inspected the site, spoke to witnesses and secured the CCTV footage on Sunday.

The committee comprising, Narsingh Deo, PCCM/Northern Railway, and Pankaj Gangwar, PCSC Northern Railway, ordered the securing of video footage of platforms 14 and 15 of the station where the massive crowd of passengers had gathered, hoping to board trains to Prayagraj for the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

On Sunday, the probe panel also inspected the tragedy site and started collecting statements from witnesses to corroborate it with the CCTV footage of the tragedy that killed 18 people and left dozens injured on Saturday night.