Wed Feb 19 08:45:57 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal CM’s “Mrityu Kumbh” Remark Sparks Controversy

**DEHRADUN, Uttarakhand – February 20, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the Maha Kumbh Mela as “Mrityu Kumbh” (Kumbh of Death) has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with BJP leaders accusing her of hurting religious sentiments. However, Banerjee has found an unlikely ally in Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the 46th Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand.

Banerjee’s comments, made in the Bengal assembly, referenced the stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, which killed at least 30 people, as well as reports of massive traffic jams (extending up to 300 kilometers), and dangerously high levels of fecal coliform in the bathing water. She criticized the organizers for their alleged lack of planning and preparedness.

The Shankaracharya echoed Banerjee’s concerns, stating that the Kumbh Mela organizers failed to implement proper crowd management and neglected the sanitation of the bathing water. He pointed to the extensive traffic jams and the unsanitary conditions as evidence of gross mismanagement. He also criticized the alleged downplaying of the death toll from the stampede.

BJP leaders, including national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, strongly condemned Banerjee’s remarks, accusing her and other opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav of anti-Hindu bias. Bhandari suggested the criticism stemmed from the opposition’s fear of the perceived unity of Hindus. Conversely, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, national general secretary of the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, linked Banerjee’s statement to the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, predicting that it would spell political doom for her.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders allege that the official death toll from the Maha Kumbh stampede is significantly underreported. The controversy surrounding Banerjee’s “Mrityu Kumbh” remark continues to dominate headlines, highlighting the deep divisions in Indian politics and the sensitive nature of religious events.

Read More