New Delhi, Jan 29 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of large-scale mismanagement at Mahakumbh, alleging that the stampede occurred due to the closure of routes for VIP movement.
Senior AAP leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh said, “The stampede was caused by VIP movement, which led to road closures and severe mismanagement.”
“We pray to God to bestow peace to the departed souls. Several Akharas had requested that the army be given the responsibility of managing the arrangements, but their plea was ignored. We urge Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to halt VIP movement at Mahakumbh so that everyone can visit, take a holy dip, and return like common devotees,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi expressed her condolences on social media platform X, stating, “The stampede at Mahakumbh is an extremely tragic incident. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to their families to bear this loss. All devotees should maintain discipline and follow safety guidelines to ensure the event remains secure.”
Sanjay Singh described the scenes from the incident as “horrifying and painful.” “A woman was seen trying to keep a relative alive by giving mouth-to-mouth oxygen.
Several videos have surfaced showing deceased individuals being carried on stretchers. According to Param Pujya Mahamandaleshwar Premanand Maharaj, nearly 20 to 25 Akharas had repeatedly urged the government to hand over the crowd management to the Indian Army due to the overwhelming number of people. I don’t see anything wrong in this request.
The Indian Army has always stepped forward to assist in such situations, but the government ignored the Akharas’ plea,” he added.
“This is a religious festival, and we want everyone to celebrate it joyfully. However, several videos had already surfaced highlighting the mismanagement. People were complaining that roads were being closed due to VIP movement,” he further said.
Senior AAP leader and Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called the incident “a very serious matter,” criticizing the Uttar Pradesh government for inviting people from across the country to Mahakumbh while failing to manage the administration. “Those responsible for overseeing the arrangements are busy holding political rallies in Delhi instead of focusing on Uttar Pradesh,” he remarked.
Bharadwaj accused the BJP government of turning every religious event into a political spectacle. “Whether it is the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the installation of the Ram Lalla idol, or the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, billionaires and industrialists are given VIP treatment,” he alleged.