Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Uttar Pradesh government over the management of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, alleging severe lapses that led to casualties. According to ANI, Raut accused the authorities of mishandling the massive gathering, which resulted in a stampede-like situation on Wednesday, leaving several injured and dozens dead.

Addressing the issue, Raut highlighted that the Kumbh Mela is a rare religious event that occurs once every 144 years, and the administration was fully aware of the massive crowds expected. However, he alleged that the government focused on political marketing instead of effective crowd management. “The authorities kept boasting that 10 to 20 crore people would attend daily, but they failed to ensure proper arrangements for such a large gathering,” ANI quoted him as saying.