"No legal provision": TMC's Mahua Moitra on reports of Railways asking X to remove stampede content

New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): TMC leader Mahua Moitra on Friday slammed the Ministry of Railways and said that there is absolutely no legal basis for the Railways to demand the removal of videos related to the New Delhi stampede.
The TMC leader called the Ministry's claim that such videos "may create unwarranted law and order situations" completely baseless.
"There is NO, repeat NO legal provision by which @RailMinIndia can ask X to remove videos of ND stampede-totally illegal. Railway's fig leaf of "may create unwarranted law and order situation" is pure and utter BS," posted Mahua Moitra on X.
It was reported that the Railways Ministry had asked X to take down videos of casualties from the February 15 New Delhi Railway Station stampede.
According to reports, the ministry cited "ethical norms" and the platform's own content policy and sent the notice on February 17, asking for action to be taken in 36 hours.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court sought a response from the Railways regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station during peak hours, which resulted in the loss of 18 lives.
The PIL alleges that the stampede on Platform No 16 was caused by overcrowding due to multiple long-distance trains arriving and departing simultaneously on the Delhi-Prayagraj route during the Maha Kumbh.
It claims that the tragedy was a result of administrative negligence and violated the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed that the Railway Board should undertake this examination and subsequently file a short affidavit detailing the steps to be taken.
The next date of hearing is on March 26. The court noted that this public interest petition raises concerns about the ineffective implementation of provisions in the Railways Act, primarily Sections 57 and 147.
The stampede happened around 10 pm on February 15 when thousands of devotees were heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh 2025 festival, causing severe overcrowding at the station. The stampede claimed 18 lives, leaving several injured.
After the stampede incident at New Delhi station, the Ministry of Railways is planning to construct permanent holding areas at around 60 railway stations across the country, which are prone to crowd congestion.
According to ministry sources, this decision is part of a broader strategy to manage the large crowds that frequently gather at busy railway stations, ensuring smoother transit and reducing congestion-related issues.
According to sources, around 60 stations have been identified nationwide as experiencing persistent overcrowding. To address this, the Ministry of Railways will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies for real-time crowd monitoring and crisis management.
These technologies will help regulate passenger movement, predict peak hours and implement immediate measures to prevent stampedes or other safety hazards. (ANI)