In a controversial statement, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad branded the upcoming Maha Kumbh as “faaltu” or “meaningless.” His remarks surfaced following a tragic stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station that resulted in 18 fatalities and numerous injuries as passengers scrambled to board trains heading to Prayagraj.
When questioned about the overwhelming turnout for the significant religious event and necessary crowd control measures, Prasad remarked, “Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai. Faltu hai Kumbh” (Is there any meaning to Kumbh?… It is just meaningless).
Labeling the stampede as an “unfortunate incident,” Prasad attributed the chaos to the “mismanagement” of the Railways. “This is a regrettable situation, and I extend my condolences to the victims. It is the Railways’ mismanagement that has resulted in such a tragic loss of life. The Railway Minister must be held accountable,” said Prasad, who has previously served as the Railways minister.
Prasad’s comments have sparked a backlash from the BJP and various Hindu religious leaders, who accused him of politicizing the death toll. Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma stated that Prasad’s remarks reveal the RJD’s negative attitude towards Hinduism, remarking, “His comments are rooted in appeasement politics. The RJD has consistently disrespected the religious sentiments of Hindus. This latest statement regarding the Maha Kumbh being meaningless exposes the party’s stance on Hindu beliefs.”
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha accused the RJD leader of exploiting the tragedy for political gain, stating, “He has consistently targeted Sanatan Dharma, and this reflects his party’s disdain for its tenets and leaders while sacrificing their own values for political expediency.”
The stampede occurred late at night when 18 individuals lost their lives after some passengers fell while descending from a footbridge during an overcrowded rush. The Delhi Police reported that the chaos ensued as passengers were confused by the arrival announcements for the ‘Prayagraj Express’ and the ‘Prayagraj Special,’ leading to a rush that resulted in the stampede.
The announcement for the ‘Prayagraj Special’ at Platform 16 created confusion, as the Prayagraj Express was already positioned at Platform 14. Passengers waiting for the Express mistakenly believed their train was arriving at Platform 16 and surged forward, causing the incident, police revealed.
A high-level committee has been established to investigate the incident. In response to the tragedy, the Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for individuals with minor injuries.
