The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, the largest occasion in Hinduism, has concluded. Whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday mentioned the Kumbh “woke up the consciousness of a nation respiration freely after breaking the shackles of a slavery mindset”, the Opposition has accused the BJP of turning the non secular gathering right into a political occasion.
The significance the BJP management, particularly Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, connected to the congregation was alongside anticipated traces. The excitement round internet hosting a non secular occasion of this scale and including a political tone to it matches properly into its Hindutva narrative. A number of Opposition leaders themselves took a dip within the Sangam even because the events themselves criticised the way in which it was organised. Nevertheless, did the Opposition additionally find yourself making some self-goals?
The Opposition events have been united in focusing on the Centre and the state authorities over the 2 stampedes — at Prayagraj and New Delhi railway stations — that claimed a number of lives. They accused the 2 governments of selling the occasion with out setting up ample steps to handle crowds. However politically, the Opposition maybe lacked a nuanced language to interact with the multitudes of devotees.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stirred an argument referring to the occasion as “Mrityu Kumbh (Kumbh of demise)” for the UP authorities’s alleged mismanagement. She later clarified that her remarks weren’t directed on the pilgrims however on the lack of correct planning and preparation for the occasion.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge too weighed in at one level, saying BJP leaders have been competing with one another to take a dip on the Sangam for the cameras, and requested, “Inform me … will poverty be eradicated by taking a dip within the Ganga? Would that provide you with meals to fill your abdomen?” Blaming the federal government for the stampede on the New Delhi railway station, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad mentioned the Kumbh was “faltu (meaningless)”.
Many within the Opposition, together with the Congress, consider that the political assaults on the Central authorities and the Adityanath-led UP administration over the stampedes and total administration of the Kumbh have been so as. Maybe it ought to have been nuanced, they added.
“Modi has already used Lalu’s assertion in Bihar to argue that the Opposition is badmouthing the Kumbh. Now these are pointless sticks that we frequently give to the BJP to beat us with,” mentioned a Congress chief.
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was one of many few Opposition figures to supply a nuanced take. Requested about Lalu and Kharge’s feedback, he mentioned at The Indian Specific Concept Change occasion, “Who am I to query anyone’s religion? Totally different religions manifest themselves in another way. I went for Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca) a couple of months in the past and a few individuals can say why ought to it matter? My religion dictates that I am going, I went. Now, if any individual’s religion dictates that they go and take a holy tub for the Maha Kumbh, why ought to we poke holes? Why give the BJP an opportunity to say that these individuals are towards Hindus?”
Many Congress leaders, together with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, Karnataka Deputy CM D Ok Shivakumar, Sachin Pilot, and Digvijaya Singh, took a dip within the Sangam. Samajwadi Social gathering (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav too was in Prayagraj. Congress leaders mentioned faith and spirituality have been a private selection, a stand the celebration took in the course of the Ram Temple consecration final 12 months.
The absence of the Gandhis
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi took a dip on the Kumbh in 2001, nonetheless early days in her political profession. She was then the Chief of the Opposition and was on the receiving finish of a marketing campaign questioning her Indianness. Politics and religion had fused for the Congress then. Sonia wished to go to the Kumbh once more in 2007 however, based on Congress leaders, the plan was cancelled as a result of the then SP authorities failed to supply ample safety.
The Gandhis stayed away this time. There was hypothesis that Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Chief of the Opposition, would possibly go to Kumbh to take a dip but it surely by no means materialised. This was stunning since Gandhi has usually proven his non secular aspect, not simply by visiting temples but in addition by referring to Shiva, the Abhay Mudra, and Hindu scriptures in his Parliament addresses.
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His rivals, nonetheless, have taken observe. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday alleged that Gandhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had “insulted” Hindus by not visiting the Maha Kumbh and prompt that Hindu voters ought to boycott them.
Requested about Thackeray and the Gandhi household not visiting Maha Kumbh, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde advised reporters on Thursday, “Those that skipped Maha Kumbh ought to be requested why they skipped it. They preserve saying they’re Hindus. Bal Thackeray proudly gave the slogan ‘garv se kaho hum Hindu hain (proudly proclaim we’re Hindu), however now they’re fearful of calling themselves a Hindu and name (Bal Thackeray) Hindu Hriday Samrat.”
“There may be nothing improper in going to the Kumbh or not going,” mentioned a Congress chief. “Religion is a private matter. A overwhelming majority of the Congress leaders are believers. However Kumbh shouldn’t be just like the consecration of the Ram Temple the place we needed to take a stand after our high management acquired invites, however it might have been higher had the Opposition prevented making remarks that the BJP can flip and spin to challenge as anti-Hindu.”
