Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defended her controversial “Mrityu Kumbh” remark, responding to criticism from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Banerjee accused Adityanath of distorting her words and emphasized respect for him as a leader. She highlighted the need for proper handling of deaths, referencing challenges in her state and contrasting it with the situation in Uttar Pradesh. Banerjee condemned misinformation about her remarks and reaffirmed her commitment to respecting all religions. She cited efforts in West Bengal during large events, stressing the importance of thorough planning and support for affected families after tragedies.
Kolkata:
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, facing significant backlash for her “Mrityu Kumbh” statement, issued a sharp response today, directly addressing her Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and mentioning his “abuses”. She further claimed that her comments have been “distorted” and transformed into “complete lies”.
“No matter the abuses Yogi Saheb hurls at me, I will not be deterred. I respect him as a Chief Minister,” Ms Banerjee stated during a press conference.
“However, I must point out that the families affected have not even received postmortem or death certificates. We have managed postmortems for the bodies that arrived here. I cannot speak for what occurred in other states. If you have announced compensation, the money should be disbursed,” the Chief Minister emphasized.
Her comments came a day after Yogi Adityanath had targeted critics while addressing the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
At Kumbh, he remarked, “Vultures took dead bodies. Pigs were in the filth… whereas sensitive people enjoyed a beautiful depiction of relationships, traders had business opportunities, and devotees experienced clean arrangements,” all amid enthusiastic support from MLAs.
Ms Banerjee took a comprehensive view today, comparing the conditions in her state, which also faces large crowds, and the meticulous preparations required to manage such situations.
She asserted that one should always account for one’s capacity, saying — “How many can attend, how many can accommodate… the necessary preparations, even for a wedding feast”. What is unnecessary is “hype like 144 years… Kumbh also took place in 2014,” she noted.
“That was our point, but many have misconstrued it and spread dreadful statements. I stand by saying that their claims are falsehoods. Complete lies. I have never disrespected any religion and never will,” she emphasized.
Bengal, she continued, also organizes large-scale events — such as the Gangasagr mela and Durga puja. “We often go without sleep… We monitor everything closely. We plan thoroughly, or else the public endures hardship,” she added.
Nevertheless, incidents can happen, and when they do, “We have to plan again and manage the aftermath effectively,” she reiterated.
Referencing the significant fire at a Kolkata hospital, she mentioned how the government worked tirelessly overnight, conducting postmortems for the deceased and providing reports, compensation, and job letters to the families by the next day.
Ms Banerjee’s comment regarding “Mrityu Kumbh” — which refers to the stampede that resulted in at least 30 fatalities and over 60 injuries – greatly upset the BJP, particularly during a surge of Opposition criticism.