'Government hiding figures': Sanjay Raut on Maha Kumbh-related stampedes

Mumbai: Amid the two back-to-back stampedes involving the Maha Kumbh Mela, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut claimed that more than 7,000 people are missing from Prayagraj during the festivities.

Raut contested the official figures of the 15 February New Delhi railway station stampede and 29 January stampede at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

“According to the information from our sources, at least 120 to 150 people have died in the stampede in New Delhi railway station…more than 100 people have died and the government is hiding the figures…the government official figure is 30…there is complete mismanagement,” said Raut.

“They way people are being invited by BJP to attend the Maha Kumbh is like it is a BJP event…and once you reach there there are vehicles, food, stay facilities…nothing like that,” he said.

“(Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath was saying yesterday that 50 crore people came to the Kumbh Mela. But how many died? When will the figure be known? How many people died in the stampede in Prayagraj? ….7,000 people have gone missing in the Kumbh Mela. Where have these 7,000 people gone? Either these people died in the stampede or have gone missing. The government is also trying to suppress the figure in the stampede in Delhi," he said.

It may be recalled, in the Rajya Sabha earlier, Raut had claimed that more then 2,000 people have died in the Prayagraj stampede.

“When the stampede happened 4-5 days back, it was said (that) it was not a stampede but a rumour...30 people died. Whether the figure is true? Don't hide it... We are responsible even if one person died...The figures that we have seen with our eyes is 2,000 people dead," he had said prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to ask him to authenticate the figure.