‘Not a very big incident’: Hema Malini on Maha Kumbh stampede that killed 30

BJP MP Hema Malini

A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan’s remarks about ‘dead bodies in the Prayagraj river’ stirred controversy, BJP MP Heme Malini played down the Maha Kumbh stampede, asserting that it was not a “big incident” and was being “exaggerated”.

The tragic stampede took place on January 29, coinciding with Mauni Amavasya, a highly sacred day in the Hindu calendar. According to figures released by the Uttar Pradesh government, the pre-dawn incident at Prayagraj’s Sangam area claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 others injured.

“We had gone to Kumbh... We had a nice bath... Everything was well managed. It is right that the incident (stampede) took place... Itna kuch bada nai hua tha (it was not a very big incident). I don't know how big it was. It is being exaggerated... It was very well-managed, and everything was done very well... So many people are coming, it is very difficult to manage but we are doing our best...,” Malini said.

The actor-turned politician had also taken a dip during Maha Kumbh on the day of stampede.

Addressing allegations from the Opposition that the government was suppressing the true number of deaths in the stampede, she remarked, “They will say whatever they want to... It is their job to say wrong things.”

On Monday, Bachchan stated that the water at Maha Kumbh is now "contaminated" because the bodies of people who died in the January 29 stampede were thrown into the river.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the Rajya Sabha member claimed that there are no arrangements for the common man at the mela.

"...Where is the water most contaminated right now? It's in Kumbh. Bodies (of those who died in the stampede) have been thrown in the river because of which the water has been contaminated... The real issues are not being addressed. The common people visiting Kumbh are not receiving any special treatment, there is no arrangement for them," she said.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has also alleged that the government was hiding the number of deaths in the stampede and demanded strict action against those trying to cover up the "mis-management" in organising the fair.

Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy said the deaths in a stampede at the ongoing Kumbh was one of the worst tragedies in independent India.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders on Monday raised the issue in Parliament demanding a list of the deceased.