New Delhi, February 16 – The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday accused the Central Government of attempting to cover up the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station and demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The opposition party alleged that the government’s response reflected a pattern of negligence and denial in handling crises.
TMC Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose, criticized the BJP-led government, accusing it of “ruthlessly playing with the lives of Indian citizens.” In a post on social media platform X, Ghose stated:
"First, Narendra Modi and his BJP denied any stampede. Then they called it a rumour. Later, they admitted that 'some people' were 'injured'. Finally, they were forced to acknowledge that 'some' may have 'died'."
She further alleged that the government repeatedly downplays tragedies, calling it an example of the Modi administration’s mantra of ‘minimum governance, maximum publicity.’
TMC Calls for Railway Minister’s Ouster
Echoing these sentiments, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale condemned the railways’ handling of the incident, asserting that officials initially dismissed reports of the stampede as a rumour, only acknowledging the casualties after bodies started arriving.
"Extremely shocked to hear about the deaths of 18 people and injuries to many others in the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station last night. My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," Gokhale posted on X.
He further alleged:
"For hours after the incident, the railways denied any stampede had occurred. It was a blatant attempt at a cover-up until the truth became undeniable."
Gokhale went on to demand Vaishnaw’s resignation, holding him directly responsible for the disaster.
"Modi’s part-time Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has blood on his hands once again. If Mr. Vaishnaw has any sense of responsibility, he should resign. If Prime Minister Modi has any concern for people's lives or any sense of accountability, he should sack Vaishnaw immediately."
Tragedy at New Delhi Railway Station
The stampede, which occurred on Saturday night, resulted in 18 deaths and left over a dozen injured, as thousands of passengers crowded the station en route to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival.
As calls for accountability grow, the government is yet to issue a formal response addressing the opposition’s demands for action against the Railway Minister.
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