Speaking in the Parliament, Samajwadi Party President and MP Akhilesh Yadav targeted the Yogi government over the Maha Kumbh stampede. He accused CM Yogi of hiding the entire truth of the stampede.
He said, as quoted by news agency ANI, "When it was known that some people had lost their lives, their bodies were lying in the mortuary and in the hospital, then the govt filled their government helicopter with flowers and showered flower petals. What kind of Sanatani tradition is this?... God knows how many slippers, clothes, and sarees were lying there and they lifted all of them using JCB machines and tractor trolleys. Nobody knows where they were thrown. To hide everything, it is heard that some pressure and some sweeteners are being given so that their news does not come out..."
While, speaking to media outside the Parliament, he asked the UP government to provide details about the stampede. He said,"...Why is the govt not giving the figures of the deceased in the stampede?...If there was a huge gathering at that time, why was space not given in the Army premises? The Government allowed this incident to take place. Now, they do not want to give the details and if anyone tries to provide details, FIR will be registered against them..."
Not a big incident: Hema Malini as Akhilesh Lashes Out At BJP Over Kumbh Stampede
BJP MP Hema Malini hit back on the remark of Akhilesh Yadav which criticised the UP government for its mismanagement of the Kumbh crowd which led to stampede. Terming the stampede as 'not a very big incident', she said that it is being exaggerated. She added that everything was very-well managed.
She said, as quoted by ANI, "We went to Kumbh, we had a very nice bath. It is right that an incident took place, but it was not a very big incident. I don't know how big it was. It is being exaggerated...It was very well-managed, and everything was done very well...So many people are coming, it is very difficult to manage but we are doing our best..."