Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 18 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark calling Maha Kumbh 2025 'Mrityu Kumbh' sparked a massive political uproar, with BJP and religious leaders condemning her statement as an attack on Hindu traditions.

The West Bengal CM, who addressed the Legislative Assembly, expressed her respect for the holy 'Ganga Maa' and the significance of the Maha Kumbh but strongly criticized the organizers for the inadequate arrangements that resulted in stampedes on January 29 in Prayagraj and February 15 in New Delhi Railway station.

In her statement, Mamata Banerjee said, 'This is 'Mrityu Kumbh'...I respect Maha Kumbh, I respect the holy Ganga Maa. But there is no planning...How many people have been recovered?...'

Alleging disparity in the arrangements made for the rich and the poor, she said, 'For the rich, the VIP, there are systems available to get camps (tents) for as high as Rs 1 Lakhs. For the poor, there are no arrangements at Kumbh...'

Banerjee continued, 'Stampede situation is common in a 'mela' but it is important to make arrangements. 'What planning did you make?'

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari strongly condemned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark and appealed to the Hindu and saint communities on Tuesday to register a strong protest.

He said, 'I appeal to the Hindu community, saint community to register a strong protest. A little while ago, on the Floor of the House (State Assembly), West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that this is not Maha Kumbh but 'Mrityu Kumbh'. Raise your voice against this attack on Hinduism, on Maha Kumbh.'

He further added, 'If you are a true Hindu, rise above politics and strongly oppose these words of Mamata Banerjee...'

In response to Mamata Banerjee's criticism of the Maha Kumbh, Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP MLAs in the West Bengal State Assembly led a protest. The group raised slogans and voiced their opposition to the CM's remarks.

The protest came after Mamata Banerjee's strong disapproval of the event's management, which she called a 'Mrityu Kumbh' due to inadequate planning.

BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's controversial statement alleging it as 'hate Sanatan and Hindus'.

In his statement, Bhandari said, 'Mamata Banerjee and the entire Indian Alliance, be it Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav or Mamata Banerjee, they hate Sanatan and Hindus. Mamata Banerjee has made it clear, by calling Maha Kumbh 'Mrityu Kumbh,' that she hates Hindus and Sanatan in every way.'

He further added, 'Yesterday, Akhilesh Yadav was looking for Akbar in Maha Kumbh, Rahul Gandhi has still not come to visit Maha Kumbh... They are scared of Sanatan's unity, and their Hindu hatred is evident.'

Bhandari went on to say, 'Mamata Banerjee's statement is an insult to more than 100 crores of Sanatanis and Hindus, and her views are similar to Rahul Gandhi's and Akhilesh Yadav's. This is why she is called the anti-national, anti-Hindu, anti-Sanatan opposition.'

Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, National General Secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's controversial remark, expressed the organization's disapproval, saying, 'Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti condemns the statement of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that Maha Kumbh is 'Mrityu Kumbh'... The way Hindus of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and I should say Eastern India have been coming here for the 'Amrit snan', it is natural for you to be restless. I feel that the upcoming assembly elections of West Bengal will prove to be a 'Mrityu Kumbh' for your political career...'

Indian Secular Front (ISF) leader and MLA Naushad Siddiqui also weighed in on the matter, stating, 'West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called Maha Kumbh 'Mrityu Kumbh', we oppose her words... A large number of devotees are going to Prayagraj, and Yogi Adityanath has failed to provide better arrangements in Maha Kumbh; this should be discussed... but giving such a huge religious event some other name is condemnable...'

Meanwhile, in response to Mamata Banerjee's criticism of the Maha Kumbh, Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP MLAs in the West Bengal State Assembly led a protest. The group raised slogans and voiced their opposition to the CM's remarks.

On Tuesday, Adhikari appealed to the Hindu and saint communities to register a strong protest.

He said, 'I appeal to the Hindu community, saint community to register a strong protest. A little while ago, on the Floor of the House (State Assembly), West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that this is not Maha Kumbh but 'Mrityu Kumbh'. Raise your voice against this attack on Hinduism, on Maha Kumbh.'

Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu refrained from making a comment on the recent remark of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee calling the Maha Kumbh as 'Mrityu Kumbh'

On CM Mamata Banerjee's 'Mrityu Kumbh' remark for Maha Kumbh2025, Naidu told ANI on Tuesday, 'I don't want to make any comment on such political statements. They are all political in nature. I am not in politics, and moreover, this is not the occasion to settle political scores. Everybody should join, take part in this holy occasion and then pray for the welfare of the people, humanity and nation.'

BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh said that the West Bengal CM was only looking at appeasement.

'The Chief Minister of a state of the country calls the great festival of Sanatan Dharma as 'Mrityu Kumbh'... Her (Mamata Banerjee) problem is that, at this time, she is seeing an obstacle in her politics of appeasement,' he said.

BJP leader Aparna Yadav said, 'I feel very sad to hear such things, that too when you have connections with a big political party... You can do politics, but doing anti-religion politics will not benefit anyone. Whether it is Mamata ji or any opposition party, how long will they keep mocking Sanatan Dharma and tradition? I want to say one more thing: a large number of people have come from West Bengal to Maha Kumbh, which cannot be counted. Secondly, this does not suit her... I think that Mamata ji should avoid such anti-religious talk. Despite being such a big politician, if she makes fun of religion, Sanatan and culture, then I think she has hurt the faith of so many lakhs of people, such a thing was not expected from her.'

Ayodhya Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das also condemned West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's 'Mrityu Kumbh' remark on Maha Kumbh.

He slammed Mamata Banerjee for attacking the faith of the people but remaining silent on the alleged incidents of rape in the state.

Das told ANI, 'The remark of CM Mamata Banerjee on Maha Kumbh is condemnable...She has called it 'Mrityu Kumbh', so I want to ask her why she is not commenting on the way Hindus are being killed in West Bengal, girls are being raped, doctors go on strike for a long period...you will comment on the faith of people but not on these issues...'

He demanded an apology from Mamata Banerjee and questioned her authority for making such comments.

'In the country, which has a population of 140 cr, more than 50 cr people are taking a holy dip at Maha Kumbh, and you are calling it a 'Mrityu Kumbh'...who gave this right to call it like this...This is very sad, and you should apologise...if you have the guts, then fight with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath...they don't have the guts to speak with them, and that's why they are taking out their frustration on the Sanatanis which is not a good thing...' the priest added.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal and Parmarth Niketan Ashram, President Swami Chidanand Saraswati, strongly condemned her statement.

Praveen Khandelwal expressed his disapproval, calling it 'an extremely shameful statement by Mamata Banerjee.'

He emphasized the scale and significance of the Maha Kumbh, stating, 'The Maha Kumbh has seen nearly 52-53 crore people taking a dip in faith and belief, and this flow hasn't stopped yet. By the 26th, until the Maha Kumbh ends, millions more will take part in this bath of faith and belief. It is the largest human gathering in the world, and if the arrangements weren't good, fifty to fifty-five crore people wouldn't gather there. A city like Prayagraj, which is not very large, still hosted such a massive crowd. This sends a huge message, not just to India, but to the entire world. People from foreign countries have also come. If Mamata ji thinks this is not the Maha Kumbh, and the words she is using, they are indirectly undermining the country's 'Sanatan'.'

Swami Chidanand Saraswati also responded, calling the occasion an 'Amrit Kumbh'.

He said, 'More than 50cr people have taken a holy dip in Maha Kumbh... This is not a 'Mrityu Kumbh', this is 'Amrit Kumbh'... this is 'Mahan Kumbh'... which has created a history... There was one ghat, and a large number of Santanis were taking a holy dip... Everyone was together chanting 'Har har Mahadev'... so many people came, but no one slept hungry or created any mascara... It is high time now we all should see India as India...'

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal sharply denounced West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's remark referring accusing her of insulting the faith of crores of Hindus.

Jagdambika Pal while speaking to ANI said, 'She has hurt the faith of crores of Hindus. She has not made this statement but pointed her finger at Sanatan Dharma. In the way she has hurt the sentiments of people who believe in Sanatan, Mamata Banerjee should know that crores of people from all over the world are participating in this sacred event. Now only nine days are left for the Mahakumbh bath, all the Shahi Amrit Snan which used to take place are done. Despite this, 1.5 crore people are coming to Prayagraj per day. You can see that whoever went and took the Holi dip, foreigners, celebrities, actors, or common people, everyone is taking a bath in the same sacred Kumbh and everyone is feeling the same energy.'

He further questioned Mamata's sincerity, saying, 'If she believes in Ganga Maiya, why hasn't Mamata Banerjee come yet...The way she gave the statement is condemnable... She only wants to incite people by messing with their sentiments the way she wants.'

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks and said she should be 'ashamed, embarrassed' of her statement.

He further expressed his outrage, stating, 'Mamata ji, you should be ashamed of what you said today. There is no bigger shame than calling such a sacred event 'Mrityu Kumbh.'

'Mamata Banerjee has called Kumbh as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. Can she say this about an Islamic festival? Can she say this when people go to Haj, thousands of people died there, can she say this about that place? Mamata ji, you should be ashamed and embarrassed about what you said today. You are calling such a holy place as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. There cannot be a bigger shame than this,' said Sirsa. (ANI)