Maha Kumbh stampede: Hema Malini calls tragedy 'exaggerated'; incident sparks political uproar
PTC Web Desk: The tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which claimed 30 lives and left over 60 injured, has ignited a political firestorm. BJP MP and veteran actress Hema Malini, who recently participated in the religious gathering, stirred controversy by downplaying the scale of the tragedy. Her remarks have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the Uttar Pradesh government of negligence and an attempted cover-up of the actual death toll.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Hema Malini remarked that the stampede “was not a very big incident" and suggested that the tragedy was being exaggerated. The actor-politician, who had taken her 'holy dip' at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers just days before the stampede, went on to praise the Yogi Adityanath administration for successfully organising the event.
"Everything was done very well. So many people are coming, and it is very difficult to manage. These things (stampedes) are inevitable,” she stated. On being asked about opposition criticism, she dismissed their claims, saying, "They will say what they want to... It is their job to say wrong things."
Opposition slams Hema Malini and BJP government
Hema Malini’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from opposition leaders, who accused her of being out of touch with the realities on the ground. Congress MP Tariq Anwar lashed out, arguing that Hema Malini received VIP treatment, while ordinary devotees suffered due to poor crowd management.
"She never saw the actual horrors of that day. When she visited, she was surrounded by security personnel. The administration was busy handling VIPs instead of ensuring the safety of lakhs of devotees," he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav echoed these sentiments, pointing out that hundreds of people had died and accusing the BJP-led government of hiding the real death toll.
Stampede triggers political storm
The Maha Kumbh stampede unfolded when thousands of devotees rushed past barriers in a desperate bid to take the ‘amrit snaan’ (holy dip). The overwhelming surge resulted in chaos, crushing several pilgrims and leaving scores injured. The tragedy soon became a major political issue, with opposition parties attacking the BJP government for its alleged mishandling of the event.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has been particularly vocal, demanding justice for the victims and calling for strict action against those responsible. During a recent Parliament session, he declared, "Those hiding the truth must be punished. The government cannot escape accountability."
Yadav also led a symbolic walkout in protest last week, just as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was about to present the Union Budget. "There is something more important now than a ‘budget’," he later told reporters.
Jaya Bachchan’s explosive allegations
Adding fuel to the fire, actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan made startling claims, alleging that the bodies of stampede victims had been dumped into the Ganga to conceal the real toll. "Where is the water most contaminated right now? It is in Kumbh. No one is giving any clarification. Bodies have been thrown into the river, contaminating the water," she said in Parliament.
Her remarks provoked a fierce backlash from the BJP, which accused her of hurting Hindu sentiments. The ruling party also defended its management of the Kumbh Mela, stating that Rs 1,600 crore had been allocated for water purification, sanitation, and crowd control measures.
Congress chief demands transparency
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge further intensified the attack, alleging in the Rajya Sabha that the real death toll was in the thousands. The BJP strongly objected to his claim, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar asking him to withdraw his statement. In response, Kharge stood firm, saying, "How many people died? Give that information at least. I will apologize if I am wrong."
Govt faces pressure for official death toll
As demands for transparency grow, opposition parties have urged the Yogi Adityanath government to release a verified list of casualties. They argue that the administration’s reluctance to disclose exact figures raises suspicions of a cover-up.
- With inputs from agencies
