'Sangam water clean': Yogi calls high fecal bacteria report 'propaganda'
What's the story
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that baseless allegations are circulating against Sanatan Dharma after a report flagged high levels of fecal coliform in Ganga at Prayagraj. Shutting down the report, Adityanath said that the Sangam water is fit for dipping and alleged propaganda to discredit Maha Kumbh. "When we make any baseless allegations...against Sanatan Dharma, Maa Ganga, India or the Maha Kumbh...it is like playing with the faith of these 56 crore people," he said.
Reactions
UP Governor expresses grief, Yadav dismisses event's significance
Adityanath also hit back at his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over her comments on the Maha Kumbh Mela. Banerjee had called the event a "Mrityu Kumbh" (Death Kumbh) after a stampede in Prayagraj killed 30 last month. She blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party government for mismanagement and alleged the actual death toll was being suppressed. Responding to this, he said that ppposition parties have been against the Maha Kumbh since day 1.
Counterclaim
Adityanath dismisses Banerjee's allegations as baseless
"The social media handles of the Samajwadi Party used language which any civilized society would not use... Lalu Yadav called the Kumbh 'Faltu'. Another partner of the SP said the Maha Kumbh has become the 'Mrityu Kumbh'." "If organizing events related to the Sanatana Dharma is a crime, then our government will keep committing that crime," he said in the UP Assembly.
Twitter Post
Even Akhilesh Yadav took a dip, says CM
#WATCH | Lucknow: In the UP assembly, CM Yogi Adityanath says, "... Any huge task has to go through three stages: mockery, opposition and acceptance. What can be the bigger example of acceptance that the SP chief (Akhilesh Yadav), who opposed it since the beginning, went there… pic.twitter.com/Rx86w3bn43
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2025
Ongoing dispute
Banerjee criticizes event management, BJP leaders respond
Adityanath further said that over 56 crore people had taken the holy dip at Triveni Sangam since the event started. "It is our good fortune that our government got the opportunity to associate with the Maha Kumbh...The country and the world have participated in this event and have taken it to new heights of success, ignoring all..false campaigns," he said. The CM also expressed condolences to families of those affected by the stampede and other incidents, promising them government support.