NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday lashed out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for calling the Maha Kumbh a “Mrityu Kumbh” (Death Kumbh), after reports of multiple fatalities at the religious event. Defending the grand congregation in Prayagraj, he rejected attempts to link all deaths to the festival and accused the opposition of spreading propaganda against Sanatan Dharma.
Yogi counters ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ narrative
Addressing the UP Assembly, Adityanath slammed critics for politicizing the January 29 stampede and other tragic incidents. “All deaths can’t be linked to Maha Kumbh. In previous Kumbhs, 800 devotees have died. The government stands with the families of those who lost their lives, and we will extend every possible help,” he said.
Maha Kumbh ‘belongs to society, not politics’
Rejecting claims that the event was politically driven, the CM emphasized that Maha Kumbh is not organized by any particular party. “This is a spiritual and cultural event of society. The government is only there to facilitate it as a servant, not as an organizer,” he asserted.
He also pointed to the record-breaking participation in this year’s Kumbh. “As we speak, more than 56.25 crore devotees have taken a holy dip in Prayagraj. When baseless allegations and fake videos are spread against Sanatan Dharma, Maa Ganga, and India, it is an attack on the faith of these 56 crore people.”
Opposition under fire for Anti-Kumbh stand
In a fiery attack on the Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties, Adityanath accused them of trying to derail the event. “They have opposed Maha Kumbh from the start. During the last assembly session, they disrupted proceedings instead of participating in discussions on preparations. The SP chief questioned why money was being spent on Kumbh. Lalu Yadav called it ‘Faltu,’ and now Mamata Banerjee calls it ‘Mrityu Kumbh.’ These remarks are an insult to the faith of millions,” he said.
He went a step further, declaring, “If organizing events related to Sanatan Dharma is a crime, then our government will keep committing that crime.”
Focus on safety amid stampede tragedy
Acknowledging the tragic stampede, Adityanath extended condolences but dismissed attempts to link the incident to mismanagement. “Our sympathies are with the families of the victims. The government will provide all possible support. But making this an excuse for political attacks is not appropriate,” he said.