West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a fierce critique against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the stampede fatalities and claimed crowd mismanagement at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, labeling the religious event as “Mrityu Kumbh (Kumbh of Death).”
Banerjee claimed that while VIPs received special treatment, the underprivileged were being deprived of basic services.
The BJP quickly responded to Banerjee, denouncing her comments as an assault on Hindus and alleging that she holds “contempt and animosity” towards Hindu customs.
BJP figure Amit Malviya claimed that her remarks revealed Banerjee’s “hypocrisy”—favoring one group while displaying clear animosity towards another.
During the Budget Session of the Assembly, Banerjee criticized the BJP government, claiming it is “commercializing religion to fracture the country” and pointed out the insufficient planning for the current Maha Kumbh religious gathering in Prayagraj.
Additionally noting that stampede occurrences are “frequent in melas,” she stressed the importance of adequate preparations and asked, “Why did you exaggerate such a critical event?” Adequate planning should have been established. How many commissions were dispatched to Kumbh following the incident?
The BJP retaliated against the Trinamool Congress chief and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, labeled it an assault on Hindus, and encouraged citizens to express a “firm protest.”
