New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday demanded adequate compensation for victims of the New Delhi railway station stampede, which left 18 dead and many injured. AAP accused the government of covering up the tragedy.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh cited eyewitness reports, alleging that a sudden platform change announcement triggered the deadly rush. “Did the railway not anticipate this risk?” he questioned. He also accused the BJP government of downplaying the incident and hiding the actual number of casualties.
Northern Railway CPRO Himanshu Upadhyay confirmed that the Patna-bound Magadh Express was at platform 14 and the New Delhi-Jammu Uttar Sampark Kranti Express at platform 15 when the stampede occurred. Passengers slipping from the foot-over bridge led to the chaos.
Singh demanded accountability from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, calling for his resignation or dismissal.
TMC Joins Demand for Railway Minister’s Ouster
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) also slammed the BJP-led government, calling for Vaishnaw’s resignation. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee described the incident as “deeply heartbreaking” and blamed poor planning.
“The tragic loss of 18 lives highlights the need for better management. Pilgrims traveling to Maha Kumbh deserve safe, well-organized journeys,” she posted on X.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh called it a “result of gross mismanagement,” accusing the railway minister of prioritizing publicity over safety. “Chaos is rampant, reserved coaches are occupied by outsiders, and now this horrific stampede. The railway minister must resign,” he said.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose accused the government of “callousness.” “First, they denied the stampede, then called it a rumor, then admitted ‘a few injuries’ before finally acknowledging deaths. The BJP’s ‘minimum governance, maximum publicity’ model stands exposed,” she posted on X.
TMC MP Saket Gokhale echoed the call for Vaishnaw’s resignation, accusing the railway ministry of covering up the incident. “For hours, Railways denied the stampede. Only when bodies appeared did they admit it,” he claimed.
He also criticized the Modi government’s handling of the Kumbh Mela. “This disaster was preventable. Overcrowded trains heading to Prayagraj showed clear signs of risk. The Kumbh has been turned into a PR stunt by the Modi-Yogi governments,” he alleged.
Highlighting the deteriorating railway safety, Gokhale said, “Deaths on Indian Railways are rising, but the minister prefers making video reels instead of addressing safety concerns.”
