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Rahul Gandhi, leading the criticism, condemned PM Modi for not paying homage to the victims who lost their lives at the grand festival in Uttar Pradesh last month
News18
The Congress Party on Tuesday accused the central government of denying the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the chance to speak after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on the ‘Mahakumbh’.
Rahul Gandhi, leading the criticism, condemned PM Modi for not paying homage to the victims who lost their lives at the grand festival in Uttar Pradesh last month.
In a statement to the media following the Prime Minister’s speech, Gandhi stressed the absence of a “democratic structure” that should allow the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) the opportunity to respond.
“We support what the PM said, Kumbh is our history and culture. Our only complaint is that the PM did not give Shraddhanjali to those who lost their lives in Kumbh. The youth who went to the Maha Kumbh also wants one more thing from the PM, which is employment… As per the democratic structure, the LoP should get an opportunity to speak, but they won’t let us. This is new India,” Gandhi said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On PM Modi’s address in the Lok Sabha on Maha Kumbh, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, “We support what the PM said, Kumbh is our history and culture. Our only complaint is that the PM did not give Shraddhanjali to those who lost their lives in Kumbh. The youth who… pic.twitter.com/aTOb3Jq3q3— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025
Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also voiced her concern over the lack of opportunity for the Opposition to express their views.
“The Opposition also should have been given a chance to present their point because the Opposition also has sentiments towards it (Mahakumbh) and they should not have any problem if we expressed ourselves,” Vadra noted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech in the Lok Sabha, praised the Mahakumbh for strengthening the spirit of unity in the country and providing a fitting response to those who had questioned India’s ability to organise such a large-scale event.
“We witnessed the enthusiasm and excitement of the Mahakumbh in India for about one and a half months. The way millions of devotees came together with devotion, rising above the concerns of convenience and inconvenience, is our greatest strength,” Modi said in his address.
