Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at critics of the Mahakumbh Mela at a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh’s Chattarpur on Sunday.
Observing that certain ‘foreign powers’ take advantage of statements made by such people, Modi said: “We nowadays see a group of leaders who mock religion and ridicule it. They are engaged in dividing people and many times foreign powers also try to weaken the country and religion by supporting them.”
According to the PM, those who are critical of events such as the Mahakumbh suffer from ‘slave mentality’.
“People who hate the Hindu religion have been doing so for centuries. They have existed in some form or the other. Such people suffer from slave mentality and keep on attacking our faith, beliefs, temples as well as our religion, culture and principles. They abuse our festivals, traditions and customs,” he said.
“They dare to attack our religion and culture that is progressive in nature. Their true agenda is to divide our society and demolish the unity that exists in the country,” Modi continued his tirade.
Modi is clearly unhappy with attacks by Opposition leaders ever since a stampede near the Sangam nose led to the loss of 30 lives at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. Earlier this month, a stampede at New Delhi railway station amid a rush to catch Prayagraj-bound trains claimed 18 lives. Observations by the National Green Tribunal on the quality of water at Triveni Sangam added fuel to the fire.
Opposition leaders like Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan claimed that thousands have died at the Mahakumbh.
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also got into the act, calling the event ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav supported her and questioned the hype and huge expenditure
