Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Hathras on Friday to meet with the families of the 121 victims who died in a tragic stampede during a religious event dedicated to preacher Bhole Baba. Gandhi, accompanied by Congress leader Danish Ali, emphasized the lack of police arrangements that led to the disaster, urging Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide maximum and timely compensation to the affected families. Criticizing the government's response, Ali pointed out the administration's failure to take the incident seriously. The UP police have arrested six organizers, though the main accused remains at large. A probe panel under a retired Allahabad High Court judge has been constituted, with the Congress calling for a judicial investigation by a serving judge. Gandhi's visit, which included stops in two Aligarh villages to meet other grieving families, underscores his commitment to supporting the victims and demanding accountability.
Visit to Hathras: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Hathras on Friday to meet with the families of stampede victims.
Stampede Tragedy: The stampede occurred during a religious event dedicated to preacher Bhole Baba, resulting in 121 deaths, mostly women.
Lack of Police Arrangements: Families told Gandhi that inadequate police arrangements led to the stampede. Gandhi emphasized this in his statement, urging better administrative measures in the future.
Call for Compensation: Gandhi urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide maximum compensation to the victims' families, stressing the importance of timely aid for the poor families affected.
Non-Political Stance: "I don't want to say this from a political prism but there have been deficiencies on the part of the administration," Gandhi stated, as reported by ANI.
Criticism of Government Response: Congress leader Danish Ali, who accompanied Gandhi, criticized the UP government for not taking the tragedy seriously. "Neither any responsibility of the administration has been fixed nor the government is taking this seriously," Ali said.
Arrests and Probe: The UP police have arrested six organizers of the event, but the main accused is still absconding. Bhole Baba has not been named in the FIR. The state government has set up a probe panel led by a retired Allahabad High Court judge. The Congress demands a judicial probe by a serving judge.
Path to Hathras: Gandhi left for Hathras early Friday morning, stopping in two Aligarh villages to meet with families affected by the tragedy. His visit highlights his commitment to supporting the victims and seeking justice.
