After Mamata, Shankaracharya Slams UP Govt On Crowd Management In Maha Kumbh

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj has slammed the UP government over the crowd management at the Maha Kumbh.

"... There was a traffic jam of 300 kilometres. If this is not mismanagement, then what is it? People had to walk 25-30 km with their luggage... The water coming for bathing is mixed with sewage water and the scientists don't consider it fit for bathing, yet you are forcing crores of people to bathe in it," PTI quoted Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, popularly known as Jagadguru, as saying.

The seer said that the government should have stopped the drains for a few days so that the devotees get pure water to bath. He stated, "... Your job was to either stop the drains for a few days or divert them so that people could get pure water while bathing... You knew 12 years ago that the Maha Kumbh would come after 12 years, why did you not make any effort in this regard?"

He continued, "When it was known beforehand that so many people would come and there is only limited space, then a plan should have been made for it... You did not make any plans... False propaganda was spread, the talk of 144 years itself is a lie... Crowd management and hospitality principles were not followed... Even when people died, they tried to hide it, which was a grave crime. In such a situation, if someone calls it names, then we won't be able to oppose it..."

It comes a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the UP government, targeting Kumbh Mela as "Mrityu-Kumbh".

She criticised the Yogi government on the last month stampede where at least 30 people lost their lives. "This is Mrityu Kumbh... I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning... How many people have been recovered?" Banerjee stated.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that while the discussion was taking place, over 56.25 crore devotees had already taken a holy dip in Prayagraj. He remarked that making baseless allegations or spreading fake videos against Sanatan Dharma, Maa Ganga, India, or the Maha Kumbh amounted to playing with the faith of these 56 crore people.

He emphasized that the Maha Kumbh was not organized by any particular party or organization but was an event of the society, with the government acting only as a servant to fulfill its responsibilities. He expressed gratitude that his government had the opportunity to be associated with the Maha Kumbh of the century. According to him, both the country and the world had actively participated in the event, elevating it to new heights of success despite false campaigns against it.

With seven days remaining for the Maha Kumbh, he noted that more than 56 crore devotees had taken a holy dip by that afternoon. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the stampede on January 29 and for those who lost their lives in road accidents while traveling for Kumbh. Offering condolences to their families, he assured that the government stood with them and would provide all possible assistance. However, he questioned the appropriateness of politicizing the issue.