Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav blamed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the stampede at the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura during Janmashtami celebrations in the early hours of August 20.
The chief minister had visited Mathura on Janmashtami.
Akhilesh Yadav said the police force meant to control the crowd was engaged in the security of the chief minister as a result of which two devotees were killed and seven injured in the stampede at the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura during Janmashtami celebrations in the early hours of August 20.
The SP chief, who visited Banke Bihari temple at Mathura on Sunday while returning from Noida, said on Monday that during the previous SP government, Janmashtami used to be celebrated with pomp but no such incidents (stampede) took place.
“The tragedy took place in the Bharatiya Janata Party government, and for this incident, none else but the BJP government is responsible," he said.
Taking a dig at Yogi Adityanath over his visit to Mathura on Janmashtami, Akhilesh Yadav said, “When the chief minister knew that on Janmashtami there is a sea of Krishna devotees in Mathura then what was the need to stay there for hours? The police force, which was meant to control the people, was engaged for him. As a result, there was a shortage of force at places where it was needed, and the tragedy took place."
Akhilesh Yadav also demanded adequate compensation to the family members of those killed in the stampede.
“The families of the pilgrims killed in Banke Bihari temple tragedy should be paid Rs 50 lakh each,” Yadav said.
On discussions that Vrindavan should be transformed into a corridor on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Akhilesh Yadav said the ancient nature of the holy town "should not be tampered with at all".
The former chief minister also alleged that the BJP, instead of developing the Braj region, was destroying it.
On the electoral prospects of the opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP chief said there were several faces in the opposition for the post of prime minister but the BJP had only one.
He also criticised the Union government for the rising prices of commodities and unemployment.
“It is unfortunate that the dreams of the youth are being shattered through schemes like Agneepath military recruitment scheme,” Yadav alleged.
Without naming the Bahujan Samaj Party, Akhilesh Yadav said, “The Samajwadi Party will go to the people and apprise them about the real character of certain political parties who contest election only for the division of votes for the benefit of the BJP.”
“People are watching and they know which political party is fighting the BJP and which is in cahoots with the ruling party. At the national level, several leaders like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and several others are working for the opposition unity,” Akhilesh Yadav said and added, “The change in political alignment in Bihar has also changed perception of the people.”