Another stampede associated with the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, UP, has cast a cloud over the auspicious event and called into question the capabilities of two dispensations headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following the stampede in Prayagraj, caused by mismanagement and the genuflection to what has come to be known as the ‘VIP culture,’ the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station on February 15 seems to be nothing short of criminal negligence. To improve one’s capabilities of handling any kind of situation, the first thing that is required is the willingness to learn. And one can only learn if one is prepared to admit one’s failings and mistakes. The authorities would do well to remember the dictum of the Spanish-American philosopher, George Santayana: those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
In the case of both the incidents, however, a state of denial blocks any possibility of even admitting what actually happened. Thus, in both cases, the first obstacle to putting in place better systems for managing mammoth crowds is the refusal to admit that a couple of stampedes happened in the first place. This is not purely a matter of semantics, the refusal to speak the word speaks of a refusal to admit the scale of the disaster and the cost paid in human lives, whatever their number.
Let us look at the actions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, who is at the moment virtually in charge of Delhi, especially given that one dispensation is on the way out and functioning as a caretaker while the new one is formed. Soon after news of the stampede, which has at the time of writing claimed 18 lives, broke, Saxena posted the following message on X: There has been an unfortunate and tragic incident of loss of lives and injuries due to disorder and stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My deepest condolences… . In 15 minutes this post was edited to read: There has been an unfortunate incident at New Delhi Railway Station. … No explanation was given for this expeditious volte-face. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, too, was in denial mode about the stampede at the Kumbh Mela on January 29.
Refusing to term it a stampede and take responsibility, he blamed everyone but himself and his administration, the only real culprits, for the stampede that likely claimed thousands of lives, though the authorities pegged the number of fatalities at 30. Risibly, Adityanath claimed that a conspiracy brought about the tragic incident, after reviling responsible political opponents as the enemies of the Sanatan dharma. It is time for the political class and the bureaucracy to acknowledge they have blood on their hands.
