New Delhi: Opposition MPs raised slogans in both houses of Parliament on Day 3 of the Budget session, demanding a discussion on the recent stampede during the Mahakumbh festival in Prayagraj, which claimed at least 30 lives and left over 60 injured.
The Opposition stormed the Well of the House, shouting slogans like “Kumbh pe jawab do,” demanding accountability from the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Opposition has accused the UP government of concealing the actual number of deaths. They have also demanded a comprehensive list of those who died in the tragedy, slamming Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for initially refusing to confirm fatalities for several hours after the incident.
Some Opposition MPs even called for the Chief Minister’s resignation.
Amid the commotion, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged members to maintain order, blaming the Opposition for disrupting proceedings.
“The people of India did not elect you to break tables or raise slogans in Parliament,” he said.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also appealed for calm, insisting that the disruptions were preventing the House from functioning effectively.
Rijiju reiterated his appeal on Monday, saying, “I have repeatedly requested the Opposition not to disrupt Question Hour. This time is meant for members to question the government, not for sloganeering. The public will ask why you came to Parliament if you are not fulfilling your duty.”
The ruckus had been anticipated after similar protests on Saturday when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was presenting the Union Budget 2025. That day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his party leaders led demonstrations against the government’s handling of the Kumbh tragedy.
That day, after minutes of sloganeering, Yadav and his party MPs staged a symbolic walkout before returning to their seats.
Speaking to reporters before the Budget presentation, Yadav had emphasised that the loss of lives at Kumbh was a bigger concern than the economic data in the Budget.
“The government is not giving the correct data about the deaths and missing persons. Families are wandering around Kumbh with photographs of their loved ones, searching for them, yet the administration has failed to compile proper information,” he said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla criticised the Opposition for disrupting proceedings during Question Hour. “Did the people of India elect you as MPs to engage in sloganeering and disrupt the House’s proceedings?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar voiced his displeasure over the disruptions, calling it unprecedented for MPs to create chaos during an obituary reference for deceased members. He described such behavior as “highly disrespectful.”
PNN & Agencies