India's BJP Under Fire After Deadly Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela

Opposition slams 'half-baked arrangements', as millions converge for Hindu festival

- Debarshi Dasgupta

NEW DELHI - Indian opposition parties have criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its handling of a vast Hindu festival after more than 30 people were killed in a stampede on Jan 29.

The six-week Maha Kumbh Mela is being held in BJP-run Uttar Pradesh state, and opposition parties have accused the state government of mismanaging what is billed as the world's largest gathering of humanity. An estimated 400 million visitors are expected in the city of Prayagraj for the festival, which began on Jan 13.

"Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion and mismanagement are responsible for this," Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X on Jan 29. "Such arrangements despite spending thousands of crores of rupees are condemnable."

Mr Akhilesh Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and president of the opposition Samajwadi Party, demanded that the management of the Maha Kumbh be handed over to the Indian Army to "restore faith among devotees".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told reporters in Lucknow that the tragedy was "heartbreaking" and announced compensation of 2.5 million rupees (S$39,000) for the family of each of the dead. He has also ordered a judicial probe into the predawn crowd crush.

The state's administration on Jan 30 also announced additional measures for better crowd management, such as banning the entry of all vehicles into the Mela area, including those for VVIPs, and setting up one-way routes for pilgrims.