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Akhilesh Yadav Demands Strict Action Over Mahakumbh Stampede; Ram Gopal Yadav Slams UP Govt and Congress’s Role in INDIA Bloc

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav called for “strict punitive action” against those responsible for the January 29 stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela. Raising the demand in his Lok Sabha address, he criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its handling of the tragedy.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview, SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle, accused the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government of suppressing the actual death toll. He also discussed the upcoming Milkipur Assembly by-poll, the state of the INDIA bloc, and Congress’s role in opposition politics.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Why does the Opposition believe the death toll from the Mahakumbh stampede is higher than the official figures?

Nobody trusts the government. Even people who were at the site of the stampede believe the official figures are fabricated. The administration has yet to release any concrete numbers.

Thousands of families are still searching for missing relatives. Many have approached the lost-and-found counters in desperation. According to some sources connected to my family, nearly 15,000 people are running from pillar to post to find their loved ones.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, presented data in Parliament that suggests the actual toll might be significantly higher. Despite making tall claims about crowd management, the government completely failed to handle the situation.

What do you mean by “tall claims”?

First, they changed the very name of Kumbh. Nowhere in religious scriptures is there any mention of a “Maha Kumbh.” Traditionally, Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years, and Ardh Kumbh every six years. For centuries, people have flocked to these pilgrimages without government invitations—it is a matter of faith and devotion.

But this time, the government spent crores on advertisements, branding it as “Maha Kumbh” and promoting unheard-of concepts like “Amrit Snan.” Nobody had heard these terms before.

They even pushed propaganda, with a government-backed sadhu going as far as to say that those who don’t attend the Maha Kumbh are “anti-national.” If you make such claims, you must ensure proper arrangements.

When you invite millions, their safety is your responsibility. If the Chief Minister wanted to play host, he should have ensured that people did not face chaos and tragedy.

Milkipur Bypoll: Has BJP Bounced Back in UP?

The SP-Congress alliance performed well in the Lok Sabha elections, but BJP bounced back in the subsequent UP bypolls. How do you view the Milkipur poll?

The BJP has not made a comeback—they have resorted to manipulation and voter suppression.

Take the Kundarki seat, which has a Muslim-majority population. Under normal circumstances, could the BJP have ever won there?

Similarly, in Milkipur, we are already seeing electoral malpractice:

• Voter suppression is in full swing—Yadavs and Muslims are being denied voter slips.
• Akhilesh Yadav was not allowed to hold a rally.
• Incorrect coordinates were provided for his helicopter landing.

This is not a fair election.

The INDIA Bloc: A Struggling Opposition?

What is the current status of the INDIA bloc? Its top leaders haven’t met since the Lok Sabha elections.

During the Lok Sabha elections, it was agreed that in every state, Indian bloc parties would support the strongest candidate to defeat the BJP.

For instance, in Delhi, we are backing AAP. That does not mean we are against Congress. The alliance was built on state-wise strategy, not rigid ideological divisions.

In Haryana, the  Congress seemed to be in a strong position against the BJP. Why did the INDIA bloc not back it openly, as it did with AAP in Delhi?

AAP had asked for five seats from Congress in Haryana, and SP was supposed to get one seat. Congress initially agreed, but that very evening, they fielded Vinesh Phogat, going back on their word.

How can we work together if Congress does not learn from its mistakes?

Had there been a joint campaign featuring Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, the alliance could have won 20 seats in Haryana. Instead, Congress fumbled and won just six.

Has the Opposition lost Momentum?

The Opposition reduced BJP to 240 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Have they lost momentum since then?

Had Congress not been so arrogant, the country would not be in this situation.

Look at Bihar—Tejashwi Yadav should have been CM in 2020. Congress refused to compromise, insisting on contesting 70 seats, but won only 19. Meanwhile, the RJD and its allies had a strike rate of 53-54%.

Had Tejashwi been CM, the Opposition would have won 30 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, and Modi would not have become PM again. But Congress never learns—I don’t know who their advisors are.

Look at their performance:

• In Himachal Pradesh, where Congress is in power, they won zero seats.
• In Chhattisgarh, where they were the ruling party, they won nothing.
• In Telangana and Karnataka, despite being in power, the BJP outperformed them.

The only reason Modi is still in power is Congress. Every other INDIA bloc party—except RJD—performed well.

What Should Congress Do?

As the largest Opposition party, what role should Congress play?

The elder in the house has the greatest responsibility. But Congress does not even communicate.

During the Haryana elections, I asked Akhilesh if Congress had offered them seats. His response? “They are not even talking to us.”

If Congress plans to stake claim to form a government in the future, they cannot do it alone. Yet, they ignore a party with 37 MPs in Parliament.

• In UP, Congress has zero presence. We gave them seats to avoid allegations that we did not want to defeat the BJP.
• In Delhi, where they have no seats, they should have negotiated with AAP for 8-10 seats.
• Instead, Rahul Gandhi is attacking Kejriwal in ways even the BJP is not. This gives the impression that Congress and the BJP speak the same language.

If BJP wins Delhi, the Opposition will suffer long-term consequences.

Future of INDIA Bloc Leadership

There is talk of Mamata Banerjee leading the INDIA bloc. Will leadership be decided after the Delhi elections?

Under Congress’s leadership, the INDIA bloc has not achieved the expected success.

The best-performing parties in the Opposition are from the South (DMK) and Mamata Banerjee’s TMC. If she were made the leader, the INDIA bloc’s fortunes could improve.

Will Congress accept this?

That remains to be seen.