Mamata Banerjee’s big attack on Yogi govt: ‘Maha Kumbh has turned into Mrityu Kumbh’

Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking in the West Bengal Assembly, launched a sharp attack on BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government over mismanagement during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

"Maha Kumbh has turned into Mrityu Kumbh," the chief minister stated, while also referring to the stampede that killed about 30 people in the largest religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

Lashing out at the BJP government further, she pointed towards the absence of effective planning for the ongoing Maha Kumbh.

“I respect Maha Kumbh and the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning... How many people have been recovered?... For the rich, the VIP, there are systems available to get camps (tents) for as high as Rs 1 Lakhs. For the poor, there are no arrangements at Kumbh... Stampede situation is common in a 'mela' but it is important to make arrangements. What planning did you make?” she asked.

This follows comments made by former Union Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday, who referred to the Maha Kumbh as "faaltu."

"Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai. Faltu hai Kumbh (Kumbh has no meaning... It is just useless)," the RJD leader said.

At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh last month, as millions of pilgrims pushed and shoved to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, a highly revered day in the Hindu calendar.

"The incident took place due to the pressure of the crowd. The crowd broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital, of whom 30 died," Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna told on the incident.