Maha Kumbh stampede: Congress slams Centre, Adityanath government for 'half-baked' arrangements
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over the "stampede-like" situation at the Sangam, demanding that the Maha Kumbh management be handed over to a better administrator than Chief Minister Adityanath and the movement of VVIPs there be stopped.
Multiple casualties were feared after a "stampede-like" situation broke out at the Sangam on Wednesday amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, as millions of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, officials said.
In view of the incident, the akharas called off their traditional 'Amrit Snan' for Mauni Amavasya, even as devotees in large numbers continued to take a dip at Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the news of "many people losing their lives" and many people getting injured due to the stampede on the banks of the Tirthraj Sangam during the Maha Kumbh is extremely heartbreaking.
"Our deepest condolences to the families of the devotees and we wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.
"Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion and mismanagement are responsible for this. Such arrangements despite spending thousands of crores of rupees are condemnable," the Congress chief said in a post in Hindi on X.
"Many important 'shahi snans' are still left, so the central and state governments should wake up now, and improve the system so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen in future," Kharge said.
"The arrangements for accommodation, food, first aid and movement of devotees etc. should be expanded and VIP movement should be reined in. This is what our saints and sages also want," he said.
Kharge urged Congress workers to help the victims in every possible way.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "The death of many devotees in the stampede during Kumbh bath in Prayagraj is very saddening. The kind of crowd that was there and the half-baked arrangements that were put in place, there was always a danger of such an accident happening," Khera said.
Many 'maha snans' are still left, so it is necessary that additional security forces be sent there and the responsibility of management be given to some other better administrator than Adityanath, Khera said and demanded that the movement of VVIPs be stopped.
Officer on Special Duty for the Mela Akanksha Rana said, "Some people have got injured and have been hospitalised after a barrier broke at the Sangam. We are yet to have the exact count of those injured".
The Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and is expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims.
This year, a rare celestial alignment called 'Triveni Yog' is occurring after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.
Around 2:00 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police vehicles rushing to the Sangam pierced through the continuous chants of mantras and shlokas echoing from loudspeakers across the Kumbh Mela area.
Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area. Relatives of many injured also reached there, as did some senior administrative and police officials.
The Triveni Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati -- is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.
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IPL: BCCI bans "unauthorised" entries in players' rooms; warns of honey traps, security risk
New Delhi (PTI): Warning of potential "honey traps, legal liability and security risks", the BCCI has banned unauthorised visitors from the hotel rooms of players, support staff and team officials in the IPL after incidents of "misconduct and protocol violations" were flagged by the Board's Anti-Corruption Unit.
In an elaborate advisory for the 10 IPL franchises, the BCCI has said that written authorisation from the team managers would be a must for guests to have access to the players' and officials' rooms.
"The advisory has been issued in light of certain incidents observed during ongoing season and is intended to reinforce the standards of professionalism, discipline, security awareness and protocol compliance expected from all stakeholders associated with IPL," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a communication to the CEOs of the franchises, a copy of which is in possession of PTI.
"It has come to the attention of the BCCI that certain incidents of misconduct and protocol violation have occurred involving players, support staff and team officials during the course of the current IPL season.
"These incidents if left unaddressed, carry the potential to cause significant reputational harm to the tournament, the franchise concerned and the BCCI as the Governing Body. They may further expose individuals and franchises to legal liability and security risks of serious nature," he went on to warn in the preamble of the document.
The Board noted that certain players and support staff members have permitted unauthorised persons to access their hotel rooms without the knowledge or approval of the concerned Team Manager.
"In a number of instances, Team Manager was entirely unaware of the presence of such visitors. The practice is strictly prohibited with immediate effect," the notification ordered.
All players and support staff have now been given a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that needs to be followed for the duration of the tournament.
"No guest shall be escorted to private hotel rooms unless Team Manager has specifically authorised the same in writing. The BCCI draws attention to all franchises to the well documented risks of targeted compromise and honey trapping that pervade high profile sporting environments.
"The possibility of incidents giving rise to serious legal allegations, including those under applicable Indian laws on sexual misconduct cannot be discounted. IPL franchises must remain vigilant and proactive in mitigating such risks at all times," the Board stated.
It also banned players and support staff from leaving team hotels at "irregular hours" without informing their designated Security Liaison Officer (SLO) and Team Integrity Officer (TIO).
Saikia said periodic checks might be conducted by the BCCI or the IPL Operations Team to ensure compliance with the guidelines and breaches would invite sanctions ranging from financial penalties to suspension or disqualification of the concerned player, support staff and team official.
Owners barred from player interaction during games
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The document also highlighted breaches by unspecified team owners, alleging that they have not maintained the sanctity of Players' And Match Officials Access (PMOA).
"Specifically instances have been observed of IPL franchises owners attempting to communicate with, approach, hug, or otherwise physically interact with players during live match situations.
"Such conduct however well-intentioned, directly contravenes established protocol and may constitute interference with team dynamics and match proceedings," the Board asserted.
The BCCI has therefore banned owners from interacting with the players while a match is on.
"IPL franchise owners and their representatives are strictly prohibited from communicating with or physically accessing players or team officials in the dugout, dressing room or playing area during course of the match, except through designated and approved channels.
"All franchise owner level access to restricted zones must strictly conform to the PMOA Protocol as communicated by the IPL operations divisions. Any deviation shall be treated as serious violation."
Prohibition of Vaping
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Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was seen vaping in the dressing room balcony during a match, causing a uproar. Without naming Riyan, Saikia said indulging in a banned activity as per Indian law will not be tolerated by the Board.
"It is pertinent to note that vapes and electronic cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian Law.
"Any individual found engaging in such conduct within tournament premises is not only violating BCCI and IPL regulations but may also be committing a cognisable offence under applicable statutory framework," he said.
"Accordingly the use of vapes, e-cigarettes, and all prohibited substances is strictly banned within all IPL tournament venues, including dressing rooms, dugouts, team hotels and practice facilities."
