BJP MP Hema Malini has made a controversial statement regarding the Mahakumbh incident, claiming that it was not a major event and that it is being exaggerated. The stampede that occurred on January 29 at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh has drawn strong criticism from the opposition, especially from Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, who has repeatedly accused the BJP government of concealing the death toll.
In an interview with a prominent news agency, Hema Malini said, “We went to the Kumbh and had a wonderful bath. It’s true that an incident occurred, but it was not a big event. It is being presented as much bigger than it was. The event was well-managed, and everything was done properly. With so many people coming, it’s hard to manage, but we are doing our best.”
Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue of the Mahakumbh stampede, accusing the government of mismanagement. He said, “The Kumbh has been organized for centuries, but this time, the publicity was such that it seemed the government had arranged for 100 crore people to attend. When news came out about deaths, the government responded by sending helicopters to offer flowers, but the situation was very different on the ground. There were dead bodies, sandals, and women’s sarees scattered around, which were collected in tractor trolleys. When the stench began to spread, the government tried to cover it up by pressuring the media and even offering incentives to prevent the news from getting out.”
This has led to a political debate, with both sides sharply criticizing each other over the handling of the Mahakumbh incident.
