At least 19 people died and 25 got injured after a crowd surge at the Kolkata Durga Puja pandal on Saturday. As political parties blamed each other, rebel TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee said, "This is not a time to play any political blame game." Leaders urged everyone to help victims.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also urged parties not to politicise the incident, saying they should work together 'in this atmosphere of mourning'.
As a political row erupted in West Bengal in the aftermath of the Kolkata stampede tragedy, with Opposition parties targeting the BJP government over the incident, rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ritabrata Banerjee criticised the Mamata-led TMC and the CPI(M) for politicising the incident, urging all parties to focus on helping those affected.
"This is not a time to play any political blame game," Banerjee, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said, adding that he was ashamed of political parties that have adopted a combative attitude.
At least 19 people were killed, and around 25 were injured after a crowd surge at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening amid heavy rain.
CPI(M) leader Shatarup Ghosh blamed the government for the deaths, alleging a complete failure of crowd management. "In the first Durga Puja after the BJP government came to power, the festival was stained with blood. Due to the complete failure of crowd management, 19 people lost their lives," he said.
Urging Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to come forward, Ghosh said, "Who is responsible for this incident? This tragic outcome occurred because the police were not used for their proper duties, but instead were deployed to suppress the Opposition or for other purposes. We demand that all the facts be brought to light without concealing any information."
He further alleged that the police demolished a book stall in the early hours following the incident, describing the move as insensitive in the wake of the deaths.
'Complete failure of administration'
MLA Kunal Ghosh from the Mamata Banerjee TMC faction termed the incident a "complete failure of the administration" and said the puja organisers should also be held accountable. He said the immediate priority was treatment of the injured and assistance to the victims' families. He called for the completion of post-mortem examinations, adequate medical care for the injured, and measures to ensure grieving families do not face inconvenience during funeral rites.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and demanded that the West Bengal government arrange prompt medical treatment, provide adequate compensation, and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Let us work together: CM
Meanwhile, Adhikari urged parties not to politicise the incident. "In this atmosphere of mourning, I want us to work together," he said. Referring to past accidents and disasters, Adhikari said, "When incidents like the one at Majherhat happened, the incident at Taratala happened, and people were trampled to death in Panihati...and before the Puja, in the midst of the monsoon, 13 people died from electrocution. What did the then chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) do? There was a flash flood in north Bengal. Around 100 people died. At that time, she organised dandiya dance and carnival. All this must stop."