The State Congress on Tuesday criticised the ‘insensitiveness’ of the BJP-led Government towards the kin of those killed in a stampede at Ratangarh in Datia district on October 13, saying that the cheques given by the State Government as a form of compensation was returned from the bank as there was no signature on it of the authorised concerned.
It may be noted over 115 pilgrims were killed and more than 100 injured in a stampede at Ratangarh temple. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a judicial inquiry to probe the tragedy and announced compensation to the next kin of the deceased. Most of the pilgrims were from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Shooting a letter to the Chief Secretary of the State Anthony DeSa, chairman, State Congress media and publication committee for Assembly elections Premchand Guddu said that around 115 people were killed in the stampede and after the incident the State Government provided compensation of `1.5 lakh each to the kin of deceased.
However, he further said that though the life of the people could not be priced but the irony was that the cheques of minimum compensation amount provided were dishonoured from the bank with the note that they did not have the signature of the competent authority. He said that the incidence exposed the insensitiveness of the State Government towards the kin of the deceased.
It is noteworthy that most of those who died were from the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and now after getting the compensation cheques bounced they are getting perturbed. He asked the Chief Secretary to take up the issue seriously and take appropriate action against the officials responsible for this unpleasant episode and make arrangements for the kin of the deceased so that their compensation cheques could be cleared from the bank.