'Those who said "Mrityu Kumbh" couldn't control holi violence': Yogi targets Mamata

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks calling the Maha Kumbh a "Mrityu Kumbh." Responding to her statement, Adityanath highlighted law-and-order issues in West Bengal during Holi and defended the sanctity of the religious event.

Speaking at an event in Gorakhpur, Adityanath emphasized the participation of devotees from across the country. "For the first time, people from Tamil Nadu came to the Maha Kumbh. People from Kerala also participated. Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 25 crores, saw a peaceful Holi celebration. But in West Bengal, there were disturbances," he remarked.

Taking a direct swipe at Banerjee, the UP Chief Minister accused her of failing to maintain law and order in her state. "Those who couldn’t control law and order during Holi had called the Maha Kumbh of Prayagraj a ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. But we say it is not ‘Mrityu’ (death), it is ‘Mrityunjay’ (victory over death). It is a Maha Kumbh," he asserted.

Adityanath further claimed that despite Banerjee’s remarks, a significant number of people from West Bengal attended the Maha Kumbh. "Every day, 50,000 to 1 lakh people from West Bengal participated in the Maha Kumbh," he said.

Mamata Banerjee had earlier made the "Mrityu Kumbh" remark in the West Bengal Assembly on February 18 while accusing the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of hiding the actual death toll in the January 29 stampede at the Sangam Nose, which officially claimed 30 lives. She alleged that the government had "hidden hundreds of bodies to bring down the toll."

However, on February 20, Mamata Banerjee clarified her stance, stating that she respects all religions and cultures. "Religion belongs to an individual, but festivals are for all. India thrives on unity in diversity," she said at a programme in Kolkata’s Newtown.