Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday termed Maha Kumbh as "Mrityu Kumbh (Kumbh of death) and slammed the Narendra Modi Government for tolerating humiliation of Indian immigrants who were deported back to India in chains.
Speaking in the State Assembly Banerjee alleged how the BJP's efforts to use religion to earn money had backfired.
Banerjee said, "Incidents like stampedes may happen in such big events but the question is whether the deaths could have been avoided with better planning. They only went about blindly publicising the event without caring for the common people. Only VVIPs' interests were taken care of. Maha Kumbh has turned into Mrityu Kumbh."
Alleging that the Uttar Pradesh Government hid facts about the actual number of deaths she said "thousands of dead bodies were disposed of in Ganga" and "the bodies that were sent back to the respective States did not even have their post mortem conducted. There was no death certificates issued."
"I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning. Arrangements were made for the rich only. Tents were sold for as high as `1 Lakh whereas the poor people were made to walk for miles and fend for themselves. The Railways too would not take adequate measures considering the publicity that had been generated."
Banerjee's Tuesday's diatribe was a culminating point of ongoing war of words between the State BJP leadership including Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari and the TMC.
Banerjee attacked the BJP for creating division among the people by using religion. "I too am a Brahmin. I too perform Pujas daily, but I don't carry my religion to the market and sell it,"
Banerjee said backing, her policy to back minorities.
"The Muslims constitute 30 to 33 per cent of the State's population. Don't they deserve good education and a better quality of life if my Government ensures that where is the problem and why shall I be branded as a member of the Muslim League," Banerjee said accusing the BJP of maintaining secret ties with the Muslim League.
"Do I divulge the stories of your secret parleys with the Muslim League for the sake of dividing people and winning votes," Banerjee asked.
