Tragic Stampede at Kumbh: Mallikarjun Kharge’s Controversial Remarks Ignite Heated Debate
Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge sparked controversy in the Rajya Sabha by claiming that a recent stampede during the Maha Kumbh on January 29 resulted in “thousands” of deaths. His statement was met with immediate backlash from the Treasury benches, accusing the Congress of politicizing a sensitive issue. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized Kharge’s remarks as “outlandish and outrageous” and demanded he provide evidence for his claims, urging him to exercise discretion.
During a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Kharge paid tribute to the alleged victims, only to face strong objections. When challenged, he maintained, “If this is wrong, you tell… this is my guess. If this is not true you tell the truth.” Responding to Kharge’s assertions, Union Minister Piyush Goyal refuted the allegations by highlighting previous incidents under Congress rule that also saw fatalities at the Kumbh events. Goyal called Kharge’s comments on both the deaths at Maha Kumbh and farmer suicides “baseless, false and misleading.”
The debate included references to past tragedies, such as the 1954 stampede during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time as Prime Minister, which claimed 800 lives, and another in 1986 under Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure that resulted in 200 deaths. Goyal further noted that 42 people died during the 2013 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj attended by eight crore devotees.
Chairman Dhankhar expressed disbelief over Kharge’s comments, emphasizing the importance of credibility and accountability in parliamentary discussions. He called on Kharge to substantiate his claims, stressing that such statements could lead to unnecessary chaos and hurt national sentiments. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju echoed this sentiment, questioning the basis of Kharge’s claims about farmer deaths and the Kumbh tragedy. The incident underscores the continuing tension between political parties over accountability and the impact of their statements on public discourse.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/thousands-died-in-stampede-at-kumbh-mallikarjun-kharge-sparks-row-9815927/
Category : India
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-02-04 04:22:00
