Lagatar24 Desk
Hathras, Uttar Pradesh – In a heartfelt appeal, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has reached out to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging an increase in compensation for the victims of the recent Hathras stampede. Gandhi highlighted the severe hardships faced by the affected families and stressed the urgency of delivering adequate compensation promptly.
The Congress leader shared his letter, dated July 6, on social media platform X, emphasizing his concern for the victims during his recent visit to Aligarh and Hathras. Gandhi acknowledged that no compensation could truly offset the loss endured by the families, but insisted on the necessity of providing financial aid to support them during this difficult time.
Gandhi also called for an impartial investigation to identify any administrative failings that contributed to the tragic incident, which resulted in 121 fatalities. He argued that a thorough probe would help prevent similar occurrences in the future and ensure accountability.
During his visit on Friday, Gandhi met with the victims’ families, offering them assurance that he would raise their issues at appropriate forums and provide all possible assistance. He also interacted with the injured and those who had lost loved ones in the stampede, reinforcing his commitment to their cause.
In a statement to the press, Gandhi pointed out lapses in the administration’s handling of the event, questioning how the crowd exceeded the permitted number of 80,000 attendees. He called for action against those responsible for the negligence.
The stampede occurred on the evening of July 2 at a gathering organized by self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari and ‘Bhole Baba’. An FIR has been registered against the event’s organizers, and the main accused, manager Dev Prakash Madhukar, was arrested on Friday night along with six other supporters.
The Uttar Pradesh Police conducted a search operation at the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri, but ‘Bhole Baba’ was not found. Senior police officials confirmed the ongoing search for the missing godman.
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and ordered a judicial probe. A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, led by retired Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, has been established to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation. The commission began its inquiry with a visit to Hathras on Saturday.
