The tragic Maha Kumbh stampede that claimed 30 lives last month has turned into a fierce political battleground, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee locking horns over the incident. The controversy deepened after Banerjee labeled the religious gathering as ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ (‘Death Kumbh’), triggering a sharp rebuttal from Adityanath in the UP Assembly on Wednesday.
Yogi Adityanath Slams Mamata Banerjee’s Remarks
Addressing the UP Assembly, Adityanath condemned Banerjee’s statement, calling it an insult to the faith of millions.
“Over 56 crore devotees have taken a holy dip in the sangam since the Maha Kumbh began. Making baseless allegations and playing politics over faith is unacceptable,” Adityanath said.
He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured government support. However, he questioned the need to politicize the tragedy, claiming the Maha Kumbh had been successfully managed despite unfortunate incidents.
Mamata Banerjee’s Sharp Criticism
On Tuesday, Banerjee had taken a strong stand against the BJP-led UP government, alleging poor planning and negligence.
“I respect the Maha Kumbh and Ganga Maa, but this has become ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. There was no proper planning. How many bodies have been recovered? What arrangements did they make?” she asked in the Bengal Assembly.
ALSO READ: ‘Mrityu Kumbh’: Mamata Banerjee slams UP govt over stampede deaths during Maha Kumbh Mela
Her attack centered on the disparity between VIP treatment and lack of facilities for ordinary pilgrims. She alleged that while VIPs received luxury accommodations, poor devotees were left to fend for themselves, leading to chaos and the deadly stampede.
BJP vs. TMC: Political Fallout
The war of words quickly escalated, with BJP leaders hitting back at Banerjee. Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal accused her of “practicing appeasement politics and making shameful statements.”
However, Banerjee found unexpected support from Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, who criticized the Maha Kumbh organizers. “Even after people died, they tried to cover it up, which is a grave crime,” he remarked.
Stampede Sparks Opposition Uproar
The Maha Kumbh stampede on January 29, which left 30 people dead—most of them women and children—has fueled intense criticism from opposition parties.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the government’s management, pointing out that “devotees were stuck in a 300 km-long traffic jam. Is this ‘Viksit Bharat’? What is the point of going to the Moon if we cannot manage basic needs on Earth?”
ALSO READ: 2nd stampede at Maha Kumbh hours after the first one, claims report, adds that total death toll is cumulative figure of both incidents
The opposition has also alleged that the UP government prioritized arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit over ensuring the safety of common devotees.
UP Government Defends Maha Kumbh Arrangements
Despite the controversy, the Yogi Adityanath-led government has hailed the Maha Kumbh as a “grand success,” emphasizing the large-scale participation of devotees from across the world.
The BJP has dismissed opposition allegations, asserting that the stampede was an unfortunate incident but did not overshadow the overall success of the event.
As the political battle intensifies, the tragedy continues to raise serious concerns about crowd management at large-scale religious gatherings, with the debate now extending to the national stage.
