February 18, 2025: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday over the stampede deaths at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Criticizing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s handling of the religious congregation, Banerjee referred to the event as "Mrityu Kumbh" (Kumbh of Death), blaming the administration for its lack of planning and negligence in crowd management.

Speaking during the Budget Session of the West Bengal Assembly, Banerjee alleged that while VIPs were enjoying special privileges, common devotees were left without basic facilities. She expressed concern over the apparent disparity, stating that luxury camps costing lakhs of rupees were being set up for the wealthy, while the poor struggled without proper arrangements. She accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of using religion to divide people and failing to ensure the safety of lakhs of pilgrims who had gathered for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Referring to the tragic incident that claimed the lives of at least 30 people on January 29, Banerjee questioned the administration’s preparedness and asked why no proper investigations had been conducted after the disaster. She emphasized that stampedes were not uncommon at large religious gatherings but insisted that such a massive event should have been handled with more care and planning.

Banerjee also alleged that bodies of victims from West Bengal were sent back without proper post-mortem reports, raising concerns about the denial of compensation to the deceased's families. She accused the authorities of covering up the deaths by attributing them to heart attacks. "We conducted the post-mortem here because they sent the bodies without even a death certificate. How will the families get compensation if there is no official cause of death?" she asked.

The BJP was quick to retaliate, with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accusing Banerjee of insulting Hindu sentiments. He urged people to protest against her remarks, claiming that her statement was an attack on the sanctity of the Maha Kumbh. He called on the Hindu community and saints to stand up against what he described as an affront to their faith. "If you are a true Hindu, rise above politics and oppose this insult to Maha Kumbh," he said while leading a protest outside the Assembly.

The controversy comes in the wake of not only the Prayagraj stampede but also a tragic incident at the New Delhi railway station, where at least 18 people were crushed to death in a rush to board trains heading for the Maha Kumbh. While authorities have yet to confirm reports of a second stampede at the event, the deaths have sparked outrage and raised serious concerns over crowd control measures.

With millions of devotees participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela, the mishandling of such a massive gathering has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. As the political blame game intensifies, families of the victims continue to demand accountability for the lives lost in what should have been a sacred and peaceful pilgrimage.