India News | Azam Khan's Incompetence Caused 2013 Kumbh Stampede: Keshav Prasad Maurya

Lucknow, Jun 17 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday called SP leader Azam Khan responsible for the 2013 Kumbh Mela stampede saying the tragedy happened because of his incompetence.

Forty-two people had died in a stampede during the 2013 Maha Kumbh in Allahabad, now Prayagraj.

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"A person who did not know the ABCD of Kumbh Mela was made the minister for Kumbh," Maurya said addressing at a conclave here.

"In 2012, I was an MLA, and in 2013, the Kumbh Mela was organised in Prayagraj. Akhilesh Yadav was then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and he did not go to take bath. His 'uncle' Mohd Azam Khan was the urban development minister, and had the responsibility of organising the Kumbh.

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"There was a stampede, and people lost their lives. Are people like these capable of running the government? A person who does not know what is the ABCD of Kumbh Mela, was made the minister for Kumbh," he said.

The BJP leader said that in 2013 even before Narendra Modi was declared the party's prime ministerial candidate he had vouched for him as the future winner.

The politician also said such is the success of the Modi government that his opponents are finding it hard to find a prime minister candidate.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)