Samajwadi Party Condemns Government Over Mahakumbh Stampede, Calls for Resignation

 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | February 18 – Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav has strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government over the deaths resulting from the Mahakumbh stampede, accusing the administration of mismanagement and misuse of public funds for public relations. He demanded the government’s resignation, asserting that its focus was misplaced.

“Government funds have been squandered on PR exercises rather than ensuring public safety. A government that fails to protect its people should step down,” Yadav stated while addressing the media. He also dismissed the government’s claims regarding the significance of the 144-year Mahakumbh cycle, stating that such a reference is absent in scriptures.

In protest against the handling of the tragedy, SP leaders staged demonstrations outside the legislative assembly, condemning the government’s failure to ensure crowd control and transparency. As a symbolic act of dissent, one SP leader carried what he called the "ashes of the government’s ethics," signifying the alleged collapse of moral responsibility.

“The state government organized the Mahakumbh, yet its mismanagement led to the loss of many lives. Shockingly, they have yet to disclose the actual death toll. They report the number of pilgrims taking a holy dip daily but refuse to acknowledge the number of casualties,” said SP leader Ashutosh Sinha in a statement to ANI.

He further remarked, “We have brought the ashes of the government’s ethics to the temple of politics—this very legislative assembly—because the moral integrity of this administration is dead.”

With the state budget session approaching, SP leaders vowed to intensify their opposition, citing broader grievances beyond the Mahakumbh incident. “The government has deceived the people—whether in elections or through mismanagement of public events. We are protesting against its failures on all fronts,” an SP leader added.

Ravidas Mehrotra, another senior SP leader, announced plans to disrupt the Governor’s address, alleging that it would be filled with misleading praise for the government. “This administration, known for leaking examination papers, has now had the Governor’s speech leaked as well. It has failed on every front,” he stated.

The controversy surrounding the Mahakumbh tragedy has intensified political tensions in Uttar Pradesh, with the opposition pressing for accountability while the government remains under scrutiny for its handling of the situation.