– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The Congress has demanded the immediate sacking of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, calling the New Delhi railway station stampede a “massacre.” Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused Vaishnaw of hiding the death figures and failing in his duties. She insisted he resign or be sacked for the mismanagement.
The stampede, triggered by delayed trains and a special express to Maha Kumbh, claimed 18 lives, including 11 women and four children. Thousands of passengers crowded platforms 12 and 14, leading to chaos. Shrinate said railway personnel knew about the rush, with 1,500 tickets sold per hour.
She blamed the disaster on the lack of security personnel and proper crowd control. She also criticized the “VIP culture” at Kumbh, alleging a divide between privileged attendees and ordinary people struggling at the station.
“The railway minister must resign immediately. If not, he should be sacked,” she asserted, accusing Vaishnaw of making reels instead of addressing the tragedy. She said the Indian Railways cannot be left in the hands of a minister who prioritizes his image over people’s lives.
Shrinate described the scene as horrifying, saying porters carried victims’ bodies while hospitals were overwhelmed. She asked, “Who is responsible for this massacre of devotees?” highlighting the lack of police, ambulances, and administration.
