Congress MP Criticizes BJP Over Jagannath Puri Stampede: Calls for Action Against 'VIP Syndrome'

Congress MP Randeep Surjewala has criticized the BJP government following the Jagannath Puri stampede, questioning when India's 'VIP syndrome' will end. He expressed deep condolences to the victims' families and highlighted how 'VIP' entries blocked devotees' access during the Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrations.

The tragic incident claimed three lives and injured several others at the Gundicha temple on Sunday. The Odisha government has initiated a probe and announced a financial package of Rs 25 lakh for the victims. Surjewala emphasized that tragedies in Bengaluru should also be addressed with a strong focus on accountability. He stressed the critical importance of every life and opposed the notion of a 'your tragedy versus my tragedy' mindset.

Surjewala advocated for the establishment of a State Crowd Safety Task Force to prevent future tragedies, suggesting that the Union Government should cover half of its formation costs. He proposed this to the Karnataka CM and urged Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to consider these measures post the Puri tragedy, ensuring robust crowd management protocols nationwide.

(With inputs from agencies.)