New Delhi, 3 February 2025: Parliament’s Budget session resumed Monday amid loud protests from opposition MPs over last week’s stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which left 30 people dead. As Lok Sabha proceedings began, opposition lawmakers stormed the Well of the House, chanting “Kumbh pe jawab do” and demanding accountability from the Uttar Pradesh government.
Opposition parties accused the state government of concealing the actual death toll, pointing to its initial refusal to confirm fatalities. They also called for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s resignation and a public list of those who died in the tragedy.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged MPs to maintain order and accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also appealed for calm. However, protests escalated, with Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi drawing the Speaker’s ire. “People sent you to ask questions, not break tables,” Mr. Birla said in a video shared by ANI. “If that’s what you want to do, then hit it harder… break it.”
Despite the commotion, Mr. Birla proceeded with the session, inviting BJP MP Alok Sharma to speak. The sloganeering persisted, prompting the Speaker to remove his headset in frustration.
Rajya Sabha members also raised the issue. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari told reporters, “We walked out for an hour and will return to demand answers. People are struggling to locate their families, and the government has not released the list of the deceased.”
Akhilesh Yadav, leading Samajwadi Party MPs in a brief walkout, criticized the government before the budget presentation. “At this moment, something more important than a budget needs attention,” he said. “Hindus have lost their lives, and the government must wake up.”
Meanwhile, the final ‘amrit snan’ of the Maha Kumbh took place Monday morning, with aerial visuals showing large crowds at the banks and boats on the water.
Police overseeing security told PTI that additional forces had been stationed at key areas. “Everything is running smoothly today,” an officer said during a pre-dawn patrol.
