Congress seeks Raje's resignation for Jodhpur stampede

Jaipur, Oct 2 (UNI) The Congress today sought resignation from Rjasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her ''apathy to Chamunda Temple stampede victims in Jodhpur and her government's criminal negligence'' in due handling of the situation leading to the tragedy on Tuesday which left 224 persons dead.

Talking to reporters here the party state President CP Joshi said that as usual Ms Raje had again showed ''insensitive'' and ''apathetic'' attitude for people in distress and preferred her personal agenda at the cost of the people's interests.

Mr Joshi said the Jodhpur district administration had officially intimated the Chief Minister of the tragic incident at the Chamunda Temple at Mehrangarh around 0645 Hrs or so on September 30.

However, instead of responding appropriately to the call and going to Jodhpur she had preferred to fly for Banswara by the state government plane, around 0730 Hrs and devoted about four-and-a-half hours on personal agenda that included worship at the Tripursundhari shrine before flying for Jodhpur from Banswara around 1200 Hrs.

The Congress leader further said that this was not the first time when Raje had showed ''apathy'' to people's miseries but she was in habit of doing so.

Earlier, during the Gujjar agitation and serial blasts in Jaipur she had exhibited the same attitude, he said.

Besides this, her government also failed to make proper administrative preparation for such occasions of mass gathering and subsequent proper handling of the situation after the stampede, Mr Joshi added.

He said the police administration did not follow the guide lines of Police Manual in making security arrangement at the Mehrangarh.

He said Raje Government has also failed to fix even administrative responsibility for the tragic mishap nor could it file any case of criminal negligence against anyone so far.

Mr Joshi also expressed his dissatisfaction over the quantum of compensation announced by the state government for the stampede victims and said the same should be increased appropriately as most of the deceased were in the age group of 15 to 25 years.

He said the Congress would organise dharna in the state if the state government failed to respond to the party demand.

UNI SS RP GC1752