Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday visited the Maha Kumbh for the first time since the stampede on January 29, and met the victims of the tragic incident at a hospital in Prayagraj. He also conducted an aerial survey of pilgrim management measures at the Maha Kumbh venue ahead of the February 3 Basant Panchami Amrit Snan.  


Soon after the aerial survey, Yogi Adityanath praised the saints for "acting with such restraint" on the day of the stampede and took a veiled potshot at the opposition, saying they tried to tarnish the glory of the grand event so it "becomes a matter of great global embarrassment".






After landing in Prayagraj today, the UP CM headed straight to Sangam Nose, where the stampede occurred, to conduct an inspection. There he was briefed by Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand and DIG Vaibhav Krishna about the incident. Official figures say that at least 30 people died and 60 were injured in the stampede on Mauni Amavasya.


"On the Mauni Amavasya day during the Amrit Snan, a tragedy unfolded here, and I must compliment the saints and seers on how, under testing circumstances, they acted with such restraint. Faced with the challenge that was there in front of all of us, as some 'punyatma' (blessed souls) became victims of a 'hadsa' (accident). But the saints acted in much the same way then as a family elder reacts when their family is confronted with some problem," Adityanath said while addressing a meeting of saints at the Maha Kumbh.


"The family elders remain patient whenever their family faces some challenge. Instead, the elders negotiate the challenge and ensure that the problem is resolved. You must have seen that some opponents of Sanatan Dharma were trying to test the patience of the saints so that the issue (stampede ahead of big Mauni Amavasya Amrit snan) becomes a matter of great global embarrassment," he added.


CM Yogi's remarks came amid the criticism from opposition regarding the state government's handling and management of the Maha Kumbh and demands to had over its management to the Army.


The opposition leaders have also alleged that the UP government was concealing figures, a charge which was also mentioned in media reports regarding more than one stampede taking place at the Maha Kumbh that day.


"I would thus like to greatly appreciate all the saints that the saints paid homage to the blessed souls who lost their lives and also performed their religious obligations towards Ma Ganga and to ensure that the Maha Kumbh continued," Adityanath said.


The CM was referring to all the 13 Akharas and seers agreeing to postpone the early morning snan on Mauni Amavasya and deciding to take the holy dip only when the crowd pressure subsided.


The seers had also continuously appealed to the devotees against panic and not to concentrate on taking their dip only at the Sangam Nose.


Yogi Adityanath further credited the saints for these actions and acknowledged the huge role played by them in the massive pilgrim turnout at the Maha Kumbh since January 13.


"We would also have to guard against those who are trying to mislead (masses) - on all issues pertaining to Sanatan and never feel shy of conspiracy. And this is not just about now, but this trend has been continuing since the days of the Ram Janambhoomi agitation. The respected saints had witnessed their behaviour and character then and now too. We need to guard against such people. Till the time there is respect for saints, the Sanatan Dharma will remain, and this Dharma is essential for the survival of mankind," he said.


"In the last 19 days, as many as 32 crore devotees have visited the Maha Kumbh. All those who have visited here are singing paeans about Sanatan Dharma, the arrangements, and other things. This is not praise of any individual but of the eternal Sanatan," Adityanath added.


On his way back from the stampede site, CM Yogi interacted with the devotees, and personally approached the barricades to check on their well-being.


The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26.