Bhole Baba cleared by judicial commission in Hathras stampede; Organisers held responsible
Lucknow: The judicial commission investigating the Hathras stampede has given a clean chit to preacher Vishwa Hari, popularly known as Bhole Baba (Suraj Pal Singh). The report, submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government and approved for presentation in the Vidhan Sabha, holds event organizers responsible for the incident while also highlighting lapses by police and administrative authorities.
The stampede, which occurred on July 2, 2024, during a 'Satsang' event in Filauri village, claimed 121 lives, including women and children. While official permission was granted for 80,000 attendees, over two lakh devotees were reportedly present at the gathering.
The commission’s report cited "mismanagement" and inadequate safety arrangements as the primary causes of the tragedy. A 3,200-page chargesheet was filed by Uttar Pradesh Police against 11 individuals connected to the event’s organization. Bhole Baba’s name was notably absent from the chargesheet, according to his defense lawyer, AP Singh.
Earlier, a petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking a probe by a five-member expert committee was dismissed. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated that while the incident was disturbing, the High Court was better suited to handle the case. The plea also requested guidelines to prevent such tragedies in large public gatherings and sought legal action against negligent authorities.
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved presenting the judicial commission's findings in the state assembly.
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We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
