The Bengal Opposition parties lashed out at the “Nero Sarkar” even as the Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede death toll rose to 19, with one more death reported on Sunday, and the State announced a cash compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the dead victims’ families and a Government job.
Apart from cash and job compensation, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the setup of a Special Investigation Team headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge.
The Centre also announced Rs 2 lakh in compensation for the families of the dead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers’ Relief Fund, a PMO release said. The injured would receive Rs 50,000 each.
In Kolkata, the Chief Minister said, “As of now, 19 people have died, and I have personally spoken to the family members of 13 such victims … it is very sad, and no loss of human life can be compensated, but the Government has decided to grant a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of those who have died… apart from a Group D job.
The Government will bear all the cost of medical treatment of those who are injured. Even as the Chief Minister and Union Home Minister, who was visiting Kolkata during the pujas, cancelled all their programmes, the Opposition Left, Mamata Trinamool Congress and the Congress unleashed a fierce attack on the Government for “playing flute and allowing Rome to burn.”
Mamata TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee discovered a “Bhaipo” (nephew) in the BJP to attack the saffron Government, wondering why no action was being taken against politicians like BJP MLAs and a nephew of Adhikari who were among the organisers of the Chorbagan Durga Puja committee.
“When will you take action against the culprit Bhaipo (nephew), Mr Chief Minister,” he asked.