'Playing with faith': Yogi hits back at Mamata over 'Mrityu Kumbh' jibe

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday responded sharply to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remark calling the Maha Kumbh “Mrityu Kumbh” after the January 29 stampede in Prayagraj, which claimed 30 lives. Addressing the UP Assembly, Adityanath dismissed the allegations of mismanagement, stating that over 56.25 crore devotees had already taken a holy dip at the event. He accused opposition leaders of spreading false narratives, saying, “When we make baseless allegations or show fake videos against Sanatan Dharma, Maa Ganga, India, or the Maha Kumbh, it is like playing with the faith of these 56 crore people.”

Banerjee, speaking in the Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, had questioned the arrangements at the event, stating, “This is Mrityu Kumbh... I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning... How many people have been recovered?” Her remarks came after reports of multiple fatalities due to a stampede and other related incidents. Adityanath, in response, highlighted that previous Maha Kumbh events had witnessed casualties exceeding 800, but such incidents were not previously linked to the festival itself.

The Uttar Pradesh CM emphasized that Maha Kumbh is a spiritual and cultural event that is not affiliated with any political party or organization. “This event is not organized by any particular party or organization. It belongs to society, and the government is there as a servant to fulfill its responsibilities,” he said. He further stated that the event had gained global recognition, with millions of devotees participating despite what he called “false campaigns” attempting to discredit it.

Adityanath also criticized opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party, for allegedly disrupting previous assembly discussions on the festival's preparations. He pointed out that Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav had earlier called the Maha Kumbh “Faltu Kumbh” and linked Banerjee’s remarks to what he described as a larger opposition effort to undermine the event. “They have opposed Maha Kumbh from the start,” he claimed, adding that criticisms of the government’s role in facilitating the event were unwarranted.

While addressing concerns over the January 29 stampede, Adityanath expressed condolences to the victims and assured that the state government would provide full assistance to affected families. He maintained that linking all deaths to mismanagement was misleading and reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring safety and order at the event. “Our sympathies are with all those who were victims of the stampede on January 29 and those who lost their lives in road accidents while traveling for Kumbh… The government stands with them and will help them in every possible way,” he said.