NEW DELHI: After protesting in Parliament over the
Maha Kumbh stampede
,
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav
on Monday lashed out at
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath
of “administrative negligence” in managing the Kumbh Mela, making the shocking claim that “thousands” may have died in the incident at Prayagraj, backing it by the accounts of witnesses.
Speaking to IANS, Yadav alleged that mismanagement, including restricted access to bridges reserved for Akharas and VIPs, contributed to the tragedy. “According to witnesses, thousands of people were killed, some thrown into the Ganga, others buried. The chief minister has said the number should not be over 30, but the reality is different,” he claimed.
Recalling the 1954 Prayag Kumbh Mela stampede, Yadav told ANI that then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had promptly addressed Parliament, confirming 400 deaths and 2,000 injuries. He targeted the current administration, accusing it of prioritising VIP arrangements over public safety.
“But our chief minister is there every day, and all officers are focused on ensuring smooth VIP access, ignoring whether common people drown or die. Around 15,000 people are searching for their missing relatives, yet the government refuses to provide information,” he said.
The opposition united in Parliament on Monday, disrupting proceedings during the Budget Session to demand an urgent discussion on the January 29 stampede, which reportedly claimed 30 lives.
Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav also slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for not releasing an official list of casualties.
Addressing a rally in Ayodhya’s Milkipur constituency—set for a bypoll on February 5—he pointed out that while the state regularly announces the number of devotees taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, it has remained silent on the death toll.
