It is humbly requested to kindly inform the concerned VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries to refrain from making their programmes of visit to Prayagraj during the following main parva/ shahi snan period to avoid inconvenience: Special secretary to UP CM in advisory dated January 3, 2025 to Union cabinet secretary, chief secretaries, ADC and others.
PRAYAGRAJ/BHOPAL: Call it utter disregard to Uttar Pradesh government’s advisory sent to VVIPs including Central ministers or lack of proper communication, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Mahakumbh Mela on January 27 along with his family members to have a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati whereas the VVIPs were supposed not to visit the Mela area from January 26 to January 31 in view of the mammoth crowd expected on the most sacred bathing festival- Mauni Amavasya falling on January 29.
The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh anticipated influx of about 10 crore devotees from across the country to have a holy dip at the Sangam.
At least 30 were killed and more than 60 injured in a stampede in the wee hours of Wednesday during Mauni Amavasya bathing festival.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath too had a holy dip at the Sangam along with the Union Home minister on Monday. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju also visited Mahakumbh the same day and had a holy dip at the Sangam.
Earlier, Samajvadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was in Mahakumbh region on January 26 to have a holy dip at the Sangam.
On Wednesday evening, Mahakumbh Mela police confirmed death of as many as 30 devotees. Out of 90 persons who sustained injuries in the stampede 30 died, as per police.
JUDICIAL INQUIRY
Meanwhile, terming the incident as sad and unfortunate and expressing his condolences on death of several devotees Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry into the incident by a three-member commission. He also announced ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the next to the kin of the deceased.
He said police too would conduct an inquiry into the incident.
Expressing his condolence on the death of devotees during the stampede Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X, “The tragic incident in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely unfortunate. My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way. In this regard, I have spoken to chief minister Yogi ji and I am constantly in touch with the state government.”
In the backdrop of a stampede that had happened during 1954 Kumbh Mela, the first after the Independence of the country, that had claimed more than 300 lives and left hundreds injured, in every mela whether it’s annual Magh Mela or Ardh Kumbh taking place every six years or Kumbh taking place every 12 years VIPs and VVIPs are expected not to visit the mela on the main bathing festival days.
However, during Kumbh the window of “No visit” period is extended in view of mammoth crowd expected to visit the area to have a holy dip at the Sangam on the occasion of bathing festivals particularly on the most sacred Mauni Amavasya day.
ADVISORY
On January 3, 2025, as many as ten days prior to Mahakumbh that began on January 13 special secretary to Chief Minister and protocol, Uttar Pradesh Ishan Pratap Singh sent an advisory to cabinet secretary, government of India, registrar general, Supreme Court of India, all aides-de-camp (ADC) to governors and Lt. governors of states/union territories, registrars of all high courts, chief secretaries of all the states/union territories, the secretaries of all state legislatures and a number of several other authorities concerned that the VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries should refrain from visiting Mahakumbh during certain period preceding and after the bathing festival days.
The advisory was sent to the CM office and offices of all the ministers in Uttar Pradesh too besides administrative and police officials across Uttar Pradesh.
“The Maha Kumbh Mela, 2025 will start from 13-01-2025 and will end on 26-02-2025 at Prayagraj. A huge number of pilgrims, visitors, sadhu, saints and other dignitaries will be there in Prayagraj during the entire Maha Kunmbh Mela period, especially on the following main parva /shahi snan dates: Paus Purnima- January 13, Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan)- Jan 14, Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan)- Jan 29, Basant Panchmi (Third Shahi Snan)- February 3, Maghi Purnima- Feb 12 and Maha Shivratri- Feb 26”, said the special secretary in the advisory.
Therefore, he added, “There may be a security concern for the VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries in Prayagraj especially on the main parva/shahi snan period. In this connection, I am directed to inform you that due to heavy rush and security concerns, it may not be possible to provide security arrangements and protocol assistance (Reg. reception-send off, board-lodging and transport etc.) for VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries during the main parva/shahi snan period.”
He said, “It is humbly requested to kindly inform the concerned VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries to refrain from making their programmes of visit to Prayagraj during the following main parva/ shahi snan period to avoid inconvenience.”
The bathing festivals and the period for which the VVIPs, VIPs and other dignitaries were requested to refrain from visiting Prayagraj, not to say of Mahakumbh, include Paush Purnima and Makar Sankranti- from January 12 to 15; Mauni Amavasya- Jan 26 to 31, Basant Panchmi- Feb 2 to 4, Maghi Purnima- Feb 11 to 13 and Maha Shivratri- Feb 25 to 27.
Union Home minister Amit Shah along with his wife, son Jay Shah and daughter-in-law had a holy dip at the Sangam on January 27. Baba Ramdev was seen with them.
The Home minister reportedly visited an Akhada and saw Akshyavat during his stay in the mela area. He had prasad with saints.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju proudly announced his visit to Mahakumbh and his holy dip at Sangam on his X handle.
Though not during the “no visit period” as advised by the state government, Defence minister Rajnath Singh and certain MPs visited Mahakumbh on January 15.
Later, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath along with his ministerial colleagues had a holy dip at the Sangam on January 22.
Several Opposition leaders including leader Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held the VIP culture responsible for the stampede and deaths that took place on Wednesday.
Expressing condolence on deaths Rahul Gandhi said on X, “…Mismanagement and administration’s special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident. There is still a lot of time left for Maha Kumbh..VIP culture should be curbed and the government should make better arrangements to fulfil the needs of common devotees.”
As per media reports from Prayagraj, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Maha Kumbh Nagar Mela Area Vaibhav Krishna said there was no protocol assistance to any VIP on Wednesday.
The DIG was perhaps right that there was no protocol assistance to any VIP on January 29 but there was no word from any authority in the Mela area or outside as to why VIPs or VVIPs were allowed to visit Mahakumbh during the period (from January 26 to January 31) meant for Mauni Mahavasya as mentioned in the state government’s advisory.
