New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini’s remark on the Maha Kumbh stampede, in which 30 people tragically lost their lives and 60 others were injured, has sparked a political row. On Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician downplayed the tragic incident, calling it "not a very big incident." Malini, speaking on January 29’s stampede during the Maha Kumbh, stated that the opposition had exaggerated the event. She also praised the Uttar Pradesh government for its management of the Maha Kumbh, dismissing the severity of the incident.
In response to questions about Akhilesh Yadav's criticism of the BJP-led government in both the Centre and Uttar Pradesh over the stampede, Malini said, "His job is to speak wrongly. We went to Kumbh, and we had a very nice bath. It is right that an incident took place, but it was not a very big incident. It is being exaggerated... The event was very well-managed, and everything was done very well. So many people are coming; it’s very difficult to manage, but we are doing our best."
Malini's remarks quickly sparked a backlash, with the Congress Party condemning her statement as "shameful" and highly insensitive. A post on X by the Congress slammed Malini's dismissal of the incident’s gravity, saying, "Due to the incompetence of the BJP government, a large number of people lost their lives at Kumbh. On this extremely sad incident, BJP MP Hema Malini said, 'This was not such a big incident, it is being blown out of proportion.' This statement is shameful; it is the height of insensitivity." The Congress also accused the BJP government of trying to cover up the incident, adding that the true scale of the tragedy had yet to be revealed. "The victims' families have been left to fend for themselves, and all efforts are being made to suppress the incident," the party said.
Meanwhile, several opposition leaders voiced their concerns over the government's handling of the stampede during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual, which saw large crowds gather at the Triveni Sangam. Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, demanded transparency regarding the death toll and treatment of the injured, calling for the government to release accurate figures on the incident. Yadav also suggested that an all-party meeting should be held to clarify the situation and recommended that the Army take over disaster management and the lost-and-found center to ensure better coordination.
Yadav urged the government to take strict action against those responsible for the stampede and those who allegedly concealed the facts. "For the Maha Kumbh tragedy, there should be strict punitive action against those responsible, and those who have hidden the truth should be punished. We ask the double-engine government, if there was no guilt, then why were the figures suppressed, hidden, and erased?" Yadav questioned.
He also emotionally remarked, "People came to earn merit, but they left with the bodies of their loved ones."
The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will conclude on February 25. It is estimated that around 40 to 50 crore devotees are expected to take part in the religious rituals at the Triveni Sangam during this year's event.