"Opposing Sanatan their agenda": BJP hits back at Oppn over PM Modi's Parliament address on MahaKumbh

New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday hit back at the Opposition leaders over their criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in the Lok Sabha on the MahaKumbh.
Addressing a press conference, Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that be it Rahul Gandhi or Akhilesh Yadav, several Opposition leaders did not even go to take a holy dip at the MahaKumbh.
"Today, when the Prime Minister commented in the Lok Sabha on this great 'Sanatani' achievement of the nation, they opposed it as well. How far will they go for vote bank politics? This has become their tradition. Condolences for what happened there had already been expressed earlier. Proper compensation and words of sympathy have been conveyed to everyone. But can we not acknowledge this great achievement?" the BJP leader said.
"Opposing Sanatan has become the agenda of these parties. The nation is watching everything, and the nation will respond," the former Union Minister said.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister commended the successful organisation of the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, attributing its success to the dedication of the public, administration, and devotees across the country and highlighting the collective efforts that contributed to the grand event.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi expressed deep gratitude towards the people of Uttar Pradesh and Prayagraj for their efforts in hosting the event, calling the Maha Kumbh a symbol of India's growing national consciousness.
"I am here to make a statement on the MahaKumbh held in Prayagraj. I want to thank the public and administration for the successful organisation of the MahaKumbh. The success of the MahaKumbh is the result of the efforts of various people. I want to thank everyone: the country's devotees, the public of UP, especially the people of Prayagraj. We all know that strenuous efforts took place to bring Ganga to earth; similar efforts have been taken to hold the grand Mahakumbh," PM Modi said.
This ignited criticism from the Opposition leaders.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed disappointment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech, didn't pay homage to those who lost their lives in the Mahakumbh stampede.
Suggesting that the Prime Minister should speak about the unemployment issue, Gandhi said that the youth who went to Mahakumbh were also seeking employment opportunities.
"I wanted to support what PM (Modi) 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 Mahakumbh also wanted one more thing from the PM, which is employment. He should have spoken about that, too," Gandhi told reporters.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning how he could speak on the subject if it was previously deemed a state matter.
Speaking to ANI, Banerjee accused the government of discrimination, alleging that opposition leaders were denied the opportunity to discuss the event in the past.
"The Prime Minister spoke that was not on the list of business. All of a sudden the Prime Minister came and started speaking on the Maha Kumbh. We also wanted to speak on the Maha Kumbh but they used to say that Maha Kumbh is a state subject and cannot be discussed here. I am astonished at how the Prime Minister can speak on the Maha Kumbh if it is a state subject. This is pure discrimination," the Trinamool MP said.
Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the Mahakumbh but its demands were ignored.
Venugopal further alleged that the union government stepped away from democratic traditions and usual conventions of the house by not allowing the Opposition to contribute to the Kumbh discussion.
"Prime Minister can give a statement anytime, but there is a procedure, a convention that it should inform. Without informing the House, he suddenly came in and gave a statement on Kumbh, what is the secrecy behind it? But still PM has given a statement, Opposition wants to contribute little bit, that is the tradition. Just like the Leader of the House, Leader of Opposition also has privileges," Venugopal told ANI at the Parliament premises.
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Lok Sabha, Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that the Opposition has sentiments towards Maha Kumbh they should have also been allowed to speak for two minutes.
"He was speaking optimistically on the Maha Kumbh... The Opposition also should have been given a chance to present their point because the Opposition also has sentiments towards it (Maha Kumbh) and they should not have any problem if we expressed ourselves... The Opposition should have also been allowed to speak for two minutes," Priyanka Gandhi told reporters.
30 people reportedly lost their lives at the stampede that occurred on the occasion of the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual on January 29.
The MahaKumbh 2025 concluded on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri on February 26, in which more than 66 crore 21 lakh devotees received the holy benefit of bathing in the holy Triveni. (ANI)