Political parties steer clear of 'Bhole Baba', only Mayawati, Left train guns at him

New Delhi: Most political leaders, barring Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Left leaders, have chosen to steer clear of the self-styled godman 'Bhole Baba' while demanding that accountability be fixed and action taken in the incident of Hathras stampede that left at least 121 persons dead last week.

Even as the incident triggered high-profile political visits to the site and high-voltage blame game, most parties appeared to treat the preacher with kid gloves. While Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, blamed the state administration and demanded better compensation for the kith and kin of the dead, they limited their demand for action against the guilty in general terms, without pointing fingers at the baba.

With the Yogi Adityanath regime coming under criticism for the incident, the ruling BJP accused the opposition of playing politics over the incident. Most regional parties too kept silent on the baba, a stance seen as typical of parties and leaders who routinely bow before "godmen" out of superstition or for seeking electoral patronage even while preaching "social reforms" and "scientific temperament".


In contrast, Mayawati lashed out at the baba (also a Dalit) and against "other such babas". "In the Hathras case, strict action should be taken against Baba Bhole and others who are guilty. Action should be taken against other such babas as well... The poor, Dalits and the oppressed in the country should not increase their pain and suffering by getting misled by the superstition and hypocrisy of many babas like Bhole Baba of Hathras," she said.

The CPI central secretariat demanded "strict punishment" against the organisers and the baba. "It is a serious thing that since last many years irrational thoughts and blind faith are allowed to spread unchecked, resulting in such tragedies," said CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury. "The state and the Centre have to decide the norms and rules governing the gatherings and religious congregations by such godmen."