Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised the Uttar Pradesh administration for the successful organisation of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the public and the state government, highlighting the event’s significance as a demonstration of India’s cultural heritage and organisational capability.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, he said, “I want to thank the public and administration for the successful organisation of the Mahakumbh. The success of the Mahakumbh is the result of the efforts of various people. I want to thank everyone: the country’s devotees, the public of UP, especially the people of Prayagraj. We all know that strenuous efforts took place to bring Ganga to earth; similar efforts have been taken to hold the grand Mahakumbh.”
The Prime Minister described the Kumbh as a reflection of the nation’s determination and spiritual strength.
“The whole world has witnessed the great glory of Bharat through the Mahakumbh. This is because of the contribution of the country’s people. This Mahakumbh was inspired by the faith of the people, for the determination of the people. In this Mahakumbh, we saw the greatness of the awakening of our national consciousness,” he added.
Modi further stated that the success of the Mahakumbh countered scepticism from critics. “The grandeur of the Maha Kumbh is a reflection of the awakening of our national consciousness, and it stands as a powerful reply to those who doubt our capabilities,” he said.
He also drew a parallel between the recent Ram Mandir ceremony and the Mahakumbh, calling both events crucial milestones for the nation.
Following the Prime Minister’s speech, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised Modi for not paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the January 29 stampede at the Kumbh.
Addressing the media, Gandhi said, “I wanted to support what the Prime Minister said. Kumbh is our tradition, history, and culture. Our only complaint is that the Prime Minister did not pay tribute to those who died in Kumbh.”
He also remarked that the youth attending the Kumbh had expectations for employment opportunities, which he said the Prime Minister should have addressed. “So, the Prime Minister must have spoken about it,” he added.
When questioned about not having the opportunity to speak in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi responded, “According to democratic structure, the Leader of the Opposition should get an opportunity to speak, but they won’t let us. This is new India.”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also commented on the matter, stating that the Opposition should have been allowed to express their views.
“He (Prime Minister) was speaking optimistically on the Maha Kumbh. The Opposition also should have been given a chance to present their point because the Opposition also has sentiments towards it and they should not have any problem if we expressed ourselves. The Opposition should have also been allowed to speak for two minutes,” she said.
The 44-day religious gathering at Prayagraj saw over 60 crore pilgrims and tourists from across the country and abroad. However, the event was marred by a tragic stampede on January 29 near the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, 30 people died and 60 others were injured in the incident.
Another stampede occurred at New Delhi railway station, where a rush of pilgrims attempting to board trains for Prayagraj resulted in 18 deaths. Both incidents raised concerns over crowd management at large-scale religious events.
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