New Delhi: A stampede-like incident happened during a marathon organised by the Congress as part of its "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" election campaign on Tuesday, injuring three girls. Officials claimed that the attendance was significantly larger than authorised, PTI reported.
Videos of the event showed Covid protocols being completely overlooked as none of the girls were seen wearing masks or maintaining social distancing.
While Congress blamed the district officials for negligence and conspiracy, the BJP said that the Opposition party was using girls as "pawns" in its "petty politics".
"Permission was given for 200 children. However, the number of those who actually turned up for the event was much higher," PTI quoted city magistrate Rajiv Pandey as saying. Pandey said the matter would be properly investigated and action would be taken against those responsible.
Three girls who took part in the marathon were hurt and were sent to the district hospital, he added.
"What led to the near stampede-like situation? What was the laxity? How a large number of children gathered there, and the permission given by the higher education department are some of the aspects that will be probed," Pandey said.
A significant number of participants of the marathon had assembled at 9 am at a school ground and video showed that in a rush to race ahead, participants stumbled and fell on each other.
Pandey said that the marathon's organisers had declared a scooty as first prize for the winner, PTI reported. Participants were overjoyed to acquire the scooty, which resulted in pushing and shoving and a stampede-like scene, he said.
State Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh alleged that the incident was the result of a "conspiracy" hatched by the BJP government in the state. "The district administration knew that the run was being held and did not cooperate," Singh said.
The state BJP unit in a tweet in Hindi said, "Making innocent girls pawns for your petty politics, is the height of shamelessness. The girls were beaten up in Jhansi (marathon), while the participants were kept hungry in Lucknow (marathon), and girls have been injured in Bareilly. Have some shame, Priyanka Vadra."
Seeking to reclaim lost momentum in the strategically key state, Congress has opted to go into the polls with a gender equality agenda, with Priyanka Gandhi's statement of allocating 40% of poll tickets to women candidates being particularly notable. 'Ladki Hoon Lad, Sakti Hoon is one of the slogans Congress has given to underscore women power.