The political confrontation between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) escalated sharply on Tuesday after Banerjee launched a blistering attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, holding his administration responsible for the recent stampede deaths and alleged mismanagement of crowds at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Referring to the religious congregation as "Mrityu Kumbh" (Kumbh of Death), Banerjee accused the Uttar Pradesh government of prioritizing VIPs while disregarding the safety and basic necessities of ordinary devotees, particularly the underprivileged. She alleged that the state administration’s negligence led to the tragic loss of lives and that authorities attempted to suppress the true scale of the disaster by falsely attributing deaths to heart attacks rather than acknowledging the chaos that ensued.
Speaking during the Budget Session of the West Bengal Assembly, Banerjee lambasted the BJP, accusing it of weaponizing religion to polarize the nation for political gains. She argued that stampedes and overcrowding are not uncommon at such large-scale religious gatherings, but insisted that a well-planned infrastructure and crowd management strategies should have been in place to prevent the catastrophe. "Why did you overhype such a serious event? Proper planning should have been ensured. How many commissions have been sent to investigate the incident?" she demanded, emphasizing that accountability should be fixed for gross negligence. She also alleged that bodies of several victims were sent to West Bengal without conducting mandatory post-mortem examinations or issuing death certificates, denying their families the right to compensation. "They will claim people died of heart attacks and deny them compensation. We conducted the post-mortem here because you sent the bodies without death certificates. How will these people receive justice?" she remarked.
Banerjee’s remarks triggered a sharp backlash from the BJP, which accused her of making an outright attack on Hindu traditions and displaying blatant disregard for the sanctity of the Maha Kumbh Mela. The BJP dismissed her statements as yet another instance of her alleged appeasement politics, where she supposedly favors one religious community over another. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya alleged, "Mamata Banerjee never misses an opportunity to appease her vote bank, yet when it comes to Hindu festivals and traditions, her attitude shifts to disdain and hostility." He went on to claim that her government has consistently worked to undermine Hindu traditions and that her latest remarks were a reflection of her deep-seated bias. Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, also lashed out at Banerjee, calling on Hindus and the saint community to register a strong protest. "A little while ago, on the Floor of the House, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that this is not Maha Kumbh but ‘Mrityu Kumbh.’ This is an insult to Hindus. If you are a true Hindu, rise above politics and strongly oppose these words," Adhikari declared, framing Banerjee’s comments as an attack on the religious sentiments of millions.
The controversy stems from the deadly stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 29, which resulted in at least 30 fatalities and left several others injured as thousands of devotees surged forward in an attempt to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Some reports also suggested that a second stampede might have occurred later in the day, although official confirmation remains pending. The tragedy has raised serious concerns over crowd management and emergency preparedness at one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. Adding to the crisis, another stampede-like situation unfolded at New Delhi railway station, where at least 18 people lost their lives as an overwhelming number of passengers rushed to board a train bound for the Maha Kumbh Mela, leading to an uncontrolled crush on an overcrowded platform.
As political tensions flare between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, attention is shifting toward the measures being taken—or the lack thereof—to ensure the safety of millions of devotees expected to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela in the coming weeks. Critics have accused the Uttar Pradesh government of being ill-prepared for the massive influx of pilgrims, with some alleging that the administration was more focused on political optics than on practical safety measures. Several opposition leaders have demanded an independent probe into the stampede, urging the government to hold those responsible accountable for their lapses.
Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to demand justice, seeking clarity on the circumstances that led to the deaths of their loved ones. Many are struggling with bureaucratic red tape while trying to claim compensation, further fueling public outrage. The incident has also reignited debates over the repeated mishandling of large religious gatherings in India, with experts pointing out that similar tragedies have occurred in the past due to administrative failures and lack of proper crowd control mechanisms.
With the Maha Kumbh Mela set to continue for several more weeks, authorities are under immense pressure to restore public confidence by tightening security measures and preventing further incidents. The BJP, on its part, has remained defiant, defending the arrangements made for the event and accusing Banerjee of politicizing the tragedy to defame the Uttar Pradesh government. The coming days will likely see heightened political sparring, but for the families of those who perished, the focus remains on seeking justice and ensuring that such a disaster is not repeated in the future.
