Mon Feb 03 14:39:49 UTC 2025: ## Bachchan Accuses UP Government of Mishandling Kumbh Mela Stampede, Claims Ganga Contaminated

**Prayagraj/New Delhi, February 3, 2025** – Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan ignited a firestorm of controversy today, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of downplaying the death toll and contaminating the Ganga river during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela. Bachchan claimed that bodies of victims from a recent stampede were dumped in the river, rendering the water used for holy dips unsafe.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Bachchan questioned the government’s claim of crores of devotees attending the Kumbh, calling it a lie and demanding transparency regarding the actual number of stampede casualties. She stated that the government’s focus is misplaced, neglecting the concerns of ordinary citizens amidst the massive event.

At least 30 people died in a stampede on January 29th during the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan. Bachchan criticized the ongoing investigation into the incident, claiming it’s insufficient and that the government’s actions speak louder than words.

Her remarks were met with strong opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi accused Bachchan of using a “written script” to spread a damaging narrative against the Hindu community and predicted negative repercussions for the Samajwadi Party.

However, the Uttar Pradesh government maintains that the river water is safe for the holy dip, citing daily water quality testing and waste management efforts. The Additional District Magistrate of the Maha Kumbh Mela, Vivek Chaturvedi, stated that pollution levels are within acceptable limits, and that machinery is deployed to remove ritual waste from the river regularly. The government also boasted that ₹1600 crore has been allocated for water and waste management out of the total ₹7000 crore budget for the Kumbh Mela, and stated that an estimated two crore devotees had taken a dip at the Sangam by 4 pm on Monday.

The controversy unfolded amidst noisy protests in the Lok Sabha by opposition parties demanding a detailed discussion on the stampede and a definitive list of the deceased. The debate over the handling of the Maha Kumbh Mela and the aftermath of the stampede continues to dominate political discourse.

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