UP Congress seeks probe into Mahakumbh mismanagement

LUCKNOW: Calling for a high-level inquiry into the revelations made in the CAG report on the Mahakumbh held in Allahabad last year, the Congress today demanded stern action against those found responsible for the mismanagement.

"The manner in which central funds for the Mahakumbh were spent on things other than mela management is most shameful. A high-level inquiry needs to be ordered into the irregularities and stern action should be taken against those responsible for it," a release quoting Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Nirmal Khatri said.

"It is not just that the state government did not use central funds meant for organising the mela and instead kept it in its pocket and has also been patting its back claiming credit for the mega show," Khatri said.

Because of the mismanagement, the stampede at the railway station claimed several lives and the CAG report clearly states that state government was responsible for it, he said.

Khatri said the state had been befooling everyone by claiming that the central government was not giving adequate funds for the Kumbh but now the reality is out before the people.