New Delhi [India], February 1 : Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday raised alarm over the government’s response to the tragic stampede during the Mahakumbh, emphasizing that the search for missing persons should take precedence over the Union Budget discussions.
Ahead of the Union Budget presentation, Yadav called for immediate action, urging the government to address the crisis. He stressed the urgent need for the Army’s involvement in the ongoing search and rescue operations, particularly after saints at the Mahakumbh had denied participating in the Shahi Snan ritual for the first time in history.
“The tragedy at the Mahakumbh is more pressing than the Budget today. People are still searching for their loved ones, and the government has failed to provide accurate numbers regarding the deceased and missing,” Yadav said.
The stampede, which occurred during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual on Wednesday, tragically claimed the lives of 30 people and left 60 others injured. Yadav criticized the government’s handling of the situation and urged swift action to address the aftermath.
As Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive Budget, the focus shifted from economic policies to the need for urgent government intervention in the ongoing disaster response at the Mahakumbh.