Opposition parties demand a debate on the Maha Kumbh stampede tragedy, accusing the government of withholding crucial information.
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Opposition Seeks Discussion on Maha Kumbh Stampede
Opposition parties have strongly criticized the government for withholding key details about the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh and for prioritizing VIP visits over crowd control. During the all-party meeting on January 30, 2025, they called for a dedicated discussion on the incident in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament.
Government’s Response: Inquiry Underway
The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw concerns raised over the mishandling of the event. Singh assured that the Uttar Pradesh government was already investigating the tragedy. However, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju did not confirm whether a debate would take place, stating that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) would determine the agenda for Parliament.
“There are many important issues… The Kumbh was also mentioned. The Business Advisory Committee will decide which issues will be taken up for discussion,” Rijiju said.
Opposition Accuses Government of Concealing Information
Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha leader Ramgopal Yadav accused the government of withholding critical information about the incident. He also criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for focusing on VIP visits instead of ensuring the safety of millions of pilgrims attending the holy event.
Rajya Sabha MP from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Manoj K. Jha, condemned the state government’s delayed response, stating, “The state remained in denial mode for 17 hours. There is a difference between religiosity and religious blindness.”
Azad Samaj Party leader Chandrashekhar echoed similar concerns, demanding accountability for the mishap.
Demand for a Condolence Resolution in Parliament
Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha chief whip Jairam Ramesh also attended the meeting, pushing for a collective resolution in Parliament to express condolences for the victims.
“In the pre-session all-party meeting, Opposition leaders urged the government to bring a resolution tomorrow to express collective condolences on the most unfortunate Maha Kumbh stampede,” Ramesh posted on social media platform X.
Concerns Over Parliamentary Conduct
The Opposition also united in criticizing the BJP’s approach to parliamentary proceedings. Congress’s Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, alleged that bipartisan parliamentary platforms were being systematically undermined. He cited the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as an example, where all proposed amendments by the Opposition were rejected.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas pointed out a disturbing trend of decreasing Parliament sittings and restrictions on private members’ business, affecting members across party lines.
“The BJP is monopolizing Parliamentary Standing Committees. While 29 BJP MPs hold positions in two panels simultaneously, only one Opposition MP has the same privilege,” Brittas noted.
NDA Allies Voice Grievances
Even NDA allies, including the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), expressed dissatisfaction. They raised concerns over arbitrary seat changes in the Lok Sabha and sought extended time to discuss critical issues.
JD(U) pushed for an extension of the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee reviewing the Bills on simultaneous elections. Meanwhile, the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV) demanded a special industrial package for Bihar.
Opposition Slams Government Over Fund Allocation
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) called for a government statement on the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh while also alleging that the Centre was depriving non-BJP-ruled states of funds. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also raised concerns regarding fund allocation.
DMK leaders T.R. Baalu and Tiruchi Siva criticized the discriminatory distribution of resources, while BJD leader Sasmit Patra highlighted the Centre’s unfulfilled promise of granting special status to Odisha.
Budget Session Timeline and Key Legislative Focus
The Budget session will commence with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Union Budget will be presented on February 1, and the first part of the session will continue until February 13. The second phase will begin on March 10 and conclude on April 4.
A total of 16 Bills are on the legislative agenda, including:
- The Waqf (Amendment) Bill
- The Immigration and Foreigners Bill
With growing discontent and pressing national concerns, the Budget session is expected to be a heated one, with the Opposition prepared to challenge the government on multiple fronts.
Keywords: Maha Kumbh stampede, Opposition demands debate, Budget session 2025, Parliament proceedings, VIP crowd control
