Kolkata Pandal Stampede: TMC MP Slams 'Complete Maladministration' After 19 Deaths
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee blames maladministration for the fatal Kolkata pandal stampede that killed 19. Police arrest seven, including committee members.
A wave of grief and political fury has gripped West Bengal following a horrific stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata. The tragedy, which claimed 19 lives and left numerous others injured, has sparked a fierce debate over public safety and administrative negligence, with Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee labeling the incident a case of "complete maladministration."
'Never Seen Such Incidents': Kalyan Banerjee Questions Safety
Expressing shock over the loss of life, MP Kalyan Banerjee stated that in all his years, he had never witnessed such a tragedy. He pointed directly to the failures of the authorities in managing the massive influx of devotees.
Banerjee highlighted several critical lapses in the pandal's design and environment, including:
- Poor Lighting: He noted that there was inadequate lighting within the premises, which likely contributed to the chaos.
- Flawed Structure: The MP criticized the construction of the pandal, mentioning that the design restricted the space available for people to gather outside and pointed to the risks associated with an elevated corridor.
- Police Absence: In a scathing critique of law enforcement, Banerjee questioned why the police allowed the crowd to swell to dangerous levels, claiming that not a single officer was visible when the situation spiraled out of control.
“The entire arrangement was not in conformity with crowd management requirements. What was the police doing?” Banerjee questioned.
Political Firestorm: TMC Targets BJP
The tragedy has quickly evolved into a political battleground. The TMC has launched a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging deep ties between BJP leaders and the organizers of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the TMC alleged that the nephew of Suvendu Adhikari was closely associated with the pandal and claimed that a BJP MLA served as the chairman of the puja committee. The party demanded immediate accountability, questioning why those responsible had not been held answerable and calling for the resignation of the Chief Minister.
VIP Culture vs. Public Safety
The TMC further intensified its attack by linking the tragedy to the security arrangements for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Kolkata. The party questioned whether the heavy police deployment for the VIP's security came at the cost of ordinary citizens' lives.
The AITC asked if the focus on a "grand welcome" for the Home Minister led to the neglect of crowd management at the pandal, arguing that public safety should never be sacrificed for "VIP culture."
Legal Action and Arrests
As the investigation unfolds, the Kolkata Police have taken decisive action, arresting seven individuals in connection with the stampede. Among those taken into custody are key figures from the puja committee and construction team:
- Raj Kumar Sewda (alias Raja): Secretary of the puja committee.
- Santanu Dubey: Vice-president of the committee.
- Biplab Mukherjee (alias Joy): The individual responsible for the construction of the bamboo structure.