West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Mahakumbh a “Mrityu Kumbh” on Tuesday while addressing the budget session in the assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party and leader of opposition (LoP) Suvendu Aadhikari appealed to the Hindu community to strongly protest against her comment.

“This is ‘Mrityu Kumbh’…I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning…How many people have been recovered?…For the rich, the VIP, there are systems available to get camps (tents) for as high as Rs 1 Lakhs. For the poor, there are no arrangements at Kumbh…Stampede situations are common in a ‘mela’ but it is important to make arrangements. What planning did you make?…” said Banerjee in assembly as quoted by ANI.

Kolkata: On #MahaKumbh2025, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "This is 'Mrityu Kumbh'…I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning…How many people have been recovered?…For the rich, the VIP, there are systems available to get camps (tents)… pic.twitter.com/6T0SyHAh0e

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2025

She further added, “Many people died in the Maha Kumbh stampede. How much compensation was given by the UP Government? No postmortem was done by them on the people from West Bengal who died in the stampede. My government did their postmortem. If we don’t know the exact reason for death, how has the Government given compensation? That Government (UP’s) did not mention the cause of death.”

After her remark on Mahakumbh, LoP Adhikari, along with other BJP functionaries, held a protest. “I appeal to the Hindu community and the saint community to register a strong protest. A little while ago, on the Floor of the House (State Assembly), West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that this is not Maha Kumbh but ‘Mrityu Kumbh’,” Adhikari said.

Notably, at least 30 people died and more than 60 were injured in a stampede that took place in Mahakumbh on January 29 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

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