Kumbh Mela Stampede: UP CM Lauds Saints For Showing Restraint' After The Incident

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has showered saints with good words for actions following the stampede on Thursday that killed at least 30 in Kumbh Mela. He also criticised the Opposition parties which cornered the BJP government over the incident.

What Yogi Said?

"On the Mauni Amavasya day during the Amrit Snan, a tragedy unfolded here, and I must compliment the saints and seers on how, under testing circumstances, they acted with such restraint. Faced with the challenge that was there in front of all of us, as some 'punyatma' (blessed souls) became victims of a 'hadsa' (accident). But the saints acted in much the same way then as a family elder reacts when their family is confronted with some problem," PTI quoted Adityanath as saying during a meeting of saints on Saturday.

"The family elders remain patient whenever their family faces some challenge. Instead, the elders negotiate the challenge and ensure that the problem is resolved. You must have seen that some opponents of Sanatan Dharma were trying to test the patience of the saints so that the issue (stampede ahead of big Mauni Amavasya Amrit snan) becomes a matter of great global embarrassment," he continued.

Opposition Criticism

On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party and other opposition leaders have made criticial comments over the stampede. The Yogi government has been accused of hiding the death numbers in the incident.

"I would thus like to greatly appreciate all the saints that the saints paid homage to the blessed souls who lost their lives and also performed their religious obligations towards Ma Ganga and to ensure that the Maha Kumbh continued," Adityanath claimed.

He pointed out the decision of the 13 Akharas deciding to postpone their early morning snan on Mauni Amavasya and taking a dip once the crowd reduced. Many seers appealed to the public not to panic and focus on taking a dip only at Sangam Nose.

Adityanath hailed the saints of playing a major role in the turnout of devotees at the Kumbh Mela.

"We would also have to guard against those who are trying to mislead (masses) - on all issues pertaining to Sanatan and never feel shy of conspiracy. And this is not just about now, but this trend has been continuing since the days of the Ram Janambhoomi agitation. The respected saints had witnessed their behaviour and character then and now too. We need to guard against such people. Till the time there is respect for saints, the Sanatan Dharma will remain, and this Dharma is essential for the survival of mankind," he added.

"In the last 19 days, as many as 32 crore devotees have visited the Maha Kumbh. All those who have visited here are singing paeans about Sanatan Dharma, the arrangements, and other things. This is not praise of any individual but of the eternal Sanatan," Adityanath claimed.