Samajwadi Party chief and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the government in the Lok Sabha, raising concerns over alleged mismanagement at the ongoing Maha Kumbh. He questioned why no concrete figures had been released regarding casualties in the recent stampede, despite the government’s extensive promotion of digitization.
Yadav also took a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh government, criticizing its handling of the mega event. “For the first time, devotees at Kumbh have been stranded in a 300-km-long traffic jam, with borders sealed. Is this the image of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ where the government can’t even manage traffic properly? What’s the point of reaching the moon when we can’t resolve issues on Earth?” he remarked.
Referring to the state’s claims of technological advancements, he asked, “Where are the drones now? The government boasted about digitization, yet it has failed to provide an exact count of those who died or went missing at the Maha Kumbh.”
The Maha Kumbh, a major religious gathering held every 12 years, commenced in Prayagraj on January 13 and is set to continue for 45 days. Official records indicate that over 44 crore devotees have taken a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam as of February 9.
The tragic stampede occurred on Mauni Amavasya, considered one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, at least 30 people lost their lives, while 60 others were injured in the pre-dawn chaos in the Sangam area.
During a debate on the Union Budget, Yadav alleged that the government’s financial policies were skewed in favor of the wealthy while ignoring the needs of the common citizen.
“This budget is targeted, but only towards the rich and industrialists. Wealth in this country is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a select few. The situation has worsened to the point where 80 crore people are dependent on government-distributed rations,” he stated.
Yadav also raised concerns over the recent deportation of over 100 illegal Indian immigrants from the United States. Criticizing how they were returned, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.
“I request Modi ji, who is visiting the US, to ensure that women and children deported from America are brought back with dignity on a separate plane. How is it that such large-scale fraud by agents continues unchecked despite his government being in power?” he questioned.
Last week, a US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar—the first major deportation under the crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Some returnees alleged that they were kept in shackles throughout the flight and were only unchained upon arrival in India.
