Opposition spreads false claims of Maha Kumbh stampede victims being dumped in Ganga, exaggerates death toll to thousands
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
2 February, 2025
Case Summary
The tragic Maha Kumbh stampede on January 29, 2025, which claimed 30 lives and injured around 60 people, became a political tool for opposition parties, particularly the Samajwadi Party (SP), to target the BJP government. On February 3, 2025, opposition MPs launched a series of allegations, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of mass cover-ups and administrative failure. SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav sensationally claimed, "Thousands were killed," some "were thrown in Ganga," and others "buried." He further claimed that officials were instructed not to report a death toll exceeding 30 and that families were being bribed with ₹15,000-₹20,000 to remain silent and avoid post-mortem procedures. However, he provided no evidence for these claims, citing only anonymous "eyewitnesses." Despite the serious accusations, no formal complaints or credible reports corroborated his statements. SP MP Jaya Bachchan echoed Yadav's claims, alleging that "thousands have died" and accusing the government of lying about the numbers while prioritising VIP arrangements over common pilgrims. She declared, "Bodies have been thrown in the river, contaminating the water." Like Yadav, she failed to provide any proof for these claims. RJD MP Manoj Jha further escalated the narrative, citing "unconfirmed reports" that truckloads of mobile phones were found after the stampede, implying a large number of missing persons. He questioned, "Where are the owners of these phones?" Similarly, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of evading accountability and blocking opposition demands for a discussion in Parliament. However, none of the opposition leaders provided verifiable evidence to support their allegations of large-scale deaths. The stampede occurred during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya, a day of immense spiritual significance when nearly 10 crore devotees gathered. At around 1-2 am, overcrowding led to barricades collapsing, and those sleeping on the ground were unintentionally trampled. DIG Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, clarified that the barricades were meant to regulate the crowd but gave way due to the sheer number of pilgrims.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Within this, the sub-category selected is- Anti Hindu subversion and prejudice. The tertiary category selected under this is- Anti-Hindu Fake News or Downplaying. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. Here, opposition leaders made sensational claims without evidence, attempting to paint the Maha Kumbh tragedy as a government cover-up while disregarding the religious and cultural significance of the event for Hindus. By exaggerating death tolls without proof, making baseless allegations of bodies being thrown into the river, and using unverified reports of missing persons, these leaders not only spread misinformation but also diminished the sanctity of the Maha Kumbh, reducing it to a political controversy rather than respecting its deep spiritual importance. In mocking the stampede, these individuals were not simply laughing at a tragic accident but were disrespecting the core of the Hindu faith and the devotion of those who participated in such a sacred event. Such insensitivity is characteristic of those who harbour deep disdain for Hindus and their faith. Given the clear intent to ridicule and denigrate the Hindu faith in the wake of a devastating event, this case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
