Mamata Banerjee Hits Back at Yogi Adityanath Over Kumbh Controversy

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded sharply to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks following the controversy over her "Mrityu Kumbh" statement. Facing widespread criticism, Banerjee clarified that her words had been "distorted" and turned into "complete lies." She also took a swipe at Yogi Adityanath, asserting that no amount of "abuses" would deter her.

"No matter what abuses Yogi Saheb flings at me, I will not get blisters. I respect him as a Chief Minister," Banerjee stated at a press conference. However, she pointed out that many families affected by the recent Kumbh tragedy had not received proper documentation or compensation. "You have not even given postmortem certificates or death certificates. We have conducted postmortems of the bodies that reached here. I don't know what happened in other states. If you have announced compensation, you should ensure that the victims' families receive the money," she said.

Her remarks came a day after Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, defended the arrangements at Kumbh and dismissed critics. "Vultures got dead bodies. Pigs got filth... whereas sensitive people got a beautiful picture of relationships, traders got business, devotees got clean arrangements," he stated, drawing strong applause from his MLAs.

Banerjee, in her response, took a broader view, comparing Bengal’s crowd management strategies with those in Uttar Pradesh. She emphasized the importance of preparation, whether for religious events or other large gatherings. "One should always consider one’s capacity – how many people can attend, how many can be accommodated. Necessary arrangements must be made even for a wedding feast. What is not needed is hype like '144 years'... Kumbh happened in 2014 as well," she noted.

Refuting allegations of religious disrespect, Banerjee insisted she had never dishonored any faith and never would. "Many have distorted my words and spread dreadful things. What they are saying is untrue. Complete lies. I have never disrespected any religion in my life and will never do so."

She highlighted Bengal’s experience in managing massive gatherings such as the Gangasagar Mela and Durga Puja. "We stay awake for days to ensure everything runs smoothly. We meticulously plan, or else people suffer. Even so, incidents can occur, and when they do, we must act promptly and manage the aftermath effectively."

Recalling a devastating fire at a Kolkata hospital, she underscored her administration’s prompt response. "We worked overnight, conducted postmortems, and provided compensation and job appointment letters to the victims' families the very next day."

The controversy erupted after Banerjee's "Mrityu Kumbh" comment, referring to a stampede at the Kumbh Mela that claimed at least 30 lives and injured over 60 people. The BJP strongly condemned her remark, viewing it as an insult to the religious sentiments of millions. However, Banerjee remains steadfast, asserting that her statements were misrepresented and that her focus remains on effective governance and public welfare.