MAHA KUMBH : EXPLORING TRUTH BEHIND DEATHS

Death is natural. All those who have taken birth are bound to die. But generally one aspires to have a decent and painless departure from the world. Not like 30 devotees or 49 or 88 or 100 or 1000 devotees at Maha Kumbh. Whatever may be final count, all had a demise under unnatural circumstances at two bathing places.

Developments of last eleven days reflect that instead of giving a correct information pertaining to dead, missing and injured, U.P. Government is playing hide and seek to the hilt. First, blunders of unimaginable scale were committed or allowed. Later, when they were found wanting, facts were hidden or suppressed. Loose administration, coupled with communal tone, commercialisation of Mela activities, restlessness of a group of devotees and immunity of Press, all seem to have led to two tragedies. Instead of two stampedes, now four or six are being talked about.

It is extremely perturbing that in a country having freedom of expression, neither Supreme Court nor Parliament was initially taking note of inhuman developments. Apex Court is still tight lipped but Parliament seems to have opened up. And “Lender of Last Resort” the Chief Minister of U.P. is being criticised heavily but no one wishes to listen to him.

Tone & Tenor of Debates In Parliament

It is very sad, rather disgusting to note that in Lok Sabha, demand for discussion was not acceded to, to begin with. When noisy protests were witnessed, members were directed by Speaker to raise the issue during discussion on motion of thanks on speech of the President. Even then Akhilesh Yadav, President of Samajwadi Party could manage to put forward his viewpoint. He criticised the functioning of the State Government.

Jaya Bachchan, another M.P. of same party also candidly stated that in Sangam area, crores of devotees would not fit in. As per her input, many dead bodies were dumped into river, akin to Covid days which has led to contamination of water.

Ram Gopal Yadav, another M.P. of S.P. went on to claim that real number of deaths far exceeds the official figure of 30. According to him, thousands were killed.Outside Parliament, he stated that many dead bodies were buried on the banks while others flown into river Ganga.He further alleged that Kumbh officers had clear instructions from the C.M., to NOT let the toll numbers exceed the mark above 30. Such instructions, if true, are compelling many families from different states to undergo unimaginable pain and misery.

In Rajya Sabha, however, even Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition was stopped from speaking. Rather, he was hounded out when he mentioned that minimum one thousand casualties had taken place. When the Chairman and Vice President intervened, LOP desired from Government, the exact number of deaths and injuries. If he was proved wrong, he offered to apologise.

Ms Viplav Thakur, M.P., Rajya Sabha in a hard hitting speech, asked ruling party not to divide the country, as people were living together peacefully for centuries. Not only they should build temples but also try to adhere to basic principles of life.

Manoj Jha, M.P. JDU from Bihar, presented a grim scenario of dead bodies lying on ground on one side and flowers being showered on devotees on the other, on Mauni Amawasya day. He felt that the Government had completely failed in its duty.

In the same way, Saved Ali Khan, Congress Rajya Sabha M.P. from Gujarat and Shakti Singh Gohil, M.P.,Rajya Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, M.P, Lok Sabha and Amarinder Singh, M.P. too expressed their strong opposition to the mishandling of Maha Kumbh, in which VIP culture also led to deaths.

When a few M.P.’s went to the well of house in Lok Sabha and demanded vital figures of dead, missing and injured, Speaker took a different view of things.

Past Record

Parliament debates of 1954 show that the then P.M. Pandit J.L. Nehru, spoke about terrible tragedy at Kumbh Mela in Rajya Sabha on February 15 that year after President Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s address to Parliament. He described it as a ‘national tragedy’. President Dr.Rajendra Prasad categorically stated that there was unprecedented gathering of pilgrims at Kumbh and a large number of persons were crushed to death by uncontrollable passage of others over them in spite of great pains taken by U.P. Government to make satisfactory arrangements for this great concourse of human beings.

It is indeed painful to note that there has not been any response from treasury benches so far. Neither a minute’s silence has been observed in either house of Parliament nor the P.M. Narendra Modi has made a statement in Parliament on the deaths and injuries in Kumbh after the address of President Draupadi Murmu.

President Murmu, however, had referred to the death of pilgrims as soon as first stampede came to notice. She also expressed grief in the very first sentence of her address to the Parliament.

Supreme Court Refusal To Hear Plea On Mahakumbh

The Apex Court has refused to entertain a PIL seeking action against U.P. Government over negligence in Maha Kumbh stampedes. It however termed the incident unfortunate.The Court directed Vishal Tiwari, petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court, instead. Direction was given by a bench of C.J.I., Sri Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar.

Petitioner has alleged lapses, negligence and utter failure of administration by the State Government in handling the Maha Kumbh crowd on Mauni Amawasya day. His plea has sought policy intervention to prevent such tragedies in large religious gatherings.

However, the Court recorded a statement of Mukul Rohtagi, Senior Advocate, appearing for U.P., that a similar petition was pending before the Allahabad High Court.

History of Stampedes

Due to sheer large number of devotees and series of challenges involved, mishaps have taken place in five number of Kumbh Melas so far. These were in 1954, 1986, 2003, 2010, and 2013. Altogether 800, 200, 100, 7, and 42 devotees respectively unfortunately lost their lives.

When 35 devotees lost their lives in 2013 outside Kumbh area, that is, at Allahabad Railway Station, the then head of Mela Committee Azam Khan, owning moral responsibility, tendered his resignation. But during the current Kumbh no one has come forward and owned moral responsibility. That means something is amiss or it is being hidden from public eye. Concerned persons may manage to escape law of land for some time but God will never spare them.

Unusual Approach Of U.P. Police

U.P. Police is taking its own time in investigating the deaths and cases of injured.They had no answer to give to the issues raised by the Judicial Inquiry Committee on 31st January a few days ago.

Its shocking to note that no F.I.R. has been filed after eleven days of happening. It has been further learnt that they are in the process of ‘analysing’ the images and videos of the area. D.G.P. says that “matter is under review”. U.P. Police reportedly has also launched an Inquiry. Was a separate Police Inquiry needed when a Judicial Inquiry has already begun ? Latter already has a retired DGP as a Member apart from a retired IAS officer.

LOST & FOUND

A number of devotees and their relatives went missing subsequent to two separate stampedes on 29th January. Missing persons were searched in every nook and corner. Upon getting disappointed many families returned home. But by grace of God, a few survivors made it home amid disbelief and immense joy of their family members.

Brijesh, a Teacher at Siddhartha Nagar gave details of his missing Grand Father on Instagram ,went to mortuary but after a few days his GrandFather reached home with the help of someone. He was not even carrying a Cell Phone nor did he remember mobile numbers of his children.

Similarly, Uddhav Roy, a policeman from West Bengal expressed immense happiness when his Grand Mother was traced in Gorakhpur. She had gone missing alongwith three other senior citizens. It could not be known how she reached there.

Another positive case was concerning Sumita Mishra, relative of Abhai Kumar Mishra, from Ethura in Deoria District. As ten fellow pilgrims were searching for her ,she managed to reach Salempur, nearest Railway Station on her own.

All three cases prove the saying that one should never give up hope. If God is kind to you, no can harm you.

Basant Panchami Day Dip

On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami on 3rd February, 2.5 Crore people are reported to have thronged the Triveni Sangam for third Sahi Snan amidst chanting of Har Har Gange, Bam Bam Bhole and Jai Sri Ram. However, this being official figure, would need proper verification. Devotees are reported to have begun arriving late at night.

For a change, many devotees took to other ghats instead of jostling for space at the ‘nose’ point.

Not to take any chance, an impenetrable security set up was implemented to ensure better crowd management and peaceful spiritual experience.

Devotees and Sadhus from India and abroad took a sacred dip in the holy Sangam. Naga Sadhus, as usual captivated devotees with their remarkable display of traditional rituals and martial arts.They showcased their extraordinary weapon handling skills, wielding spears, swords and tridents with precision. Rhythmic beats of Damru (small two headed drum) added to the grandeur of the event.

Additional force was deployed at all pressure points for better crowd management. So far over 40 crore devotees have taken bath. Shahi Snan on Feb.26, MahaShivratri day will mark the culmination of Maha Kumbh.

2nd Stampede at Jhusi

It has come to notice that Mela administration had not divulged details about another stampede at 5.55 a.m.on 29th January in Jhusi, barely 3 kms away, in which over 40 devotees are reported to have died and 58 were injured. A press reporter discovered it and made it public by evening of 31st January. Herein also policemen were found wanting. Another video showed bodies and leftovers were being ruthlessly removed by a J.C.B. Very sad.

All this shows extremely callous and immune state of affairs for which the concerned civil and police officials need to be swiftly act against. Any further delay or their routine transfer may not only complicate matters but vital evidence will be also surely destroyed with each passing day.

Judicial Inquiry

A Judicial Inquiry, to be headed by Sri Harsha Kumar, a retired High Court Judge has been notified. Having two other members, it has to submit its report within a month. Committee paid a visit to spot on 31st January but what transpired was not divulged.

However, past experience shows that this way, clever fellows buy time and actual culprits vanish and inquiry committees get extension after extension.

SCENARIO AHEAD

For a few days overall situation may look slightly different but it may be back to square one again . Crowd at Kumbh is dwindling yet a lot may happen both from positive and negative angles.The present centralised set up is unlikely to be relaxed in a situation when suffering people having undying faith donot get a chance to highlight and ventilate their genuine grievances.

Announcement of no vehicle zone in Mela area could have been resorted to long ago.Vehicle has not only become a status symbol but power is supposed to flow through it in our semi feudal society.

Kumbh Mela will soon become another chapter in history but sufferings and pains of innocent people can not be forgotten easily.There has not been any response or clarification from Government of the day thus far which may indicate that there is something fishy.

Personally one is devastated on hearing that one couple had a son after eight years of wedlock but he was lost for ever at Maha Kumbh.

(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)