Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): After five deaths were reported during Pandit Pradeep Mishra’s ‘Rudraksh’ distribution event and Kawad Yatra in Sehore, voices demanding strict action against him have emerged.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said that one is above the law, and the state government must take action against those responsible for the stampede. He was speaking to the media on Thursday.
The Congress leader criticized the state government on various issues raised during the eight-day Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
“Pandit Pradeep Mishra is a scholar, but the law is supreme. Permission cannot be granted to organize events like the distribution of Rudraksha following someone's death. Action has been taken in similar cases in the past—such as the Kohli case. The question is, if the rules were violated, who is responsible? Action should be taken against the concerned person immediately,” he said.
He also alleged that the state government did not want to discuss the OBC reservation issue in the House and avoided issuing a ‘call attention’ notice to debate the matter.
Notably, two women died during a stampede at Kubereshwar Dham on Tuesday amid gathering of lakhs of people for Rudraksh distribution event. A day after, on Wednesday, three people died during Mishra’s Kawad Yatra. Though officials said that they died due to extreme weather conditions.
He further accused forest officials of being involved in illegal tree felling and of encroaching on forest land with the help of forest dwellers. He demanded that this practice be stopped immediately and strict action be taken against the violators.
He raised concerns regarding the development of two metro cities in the state—Indore and Bhopal—alleging that farmers' land is at risk. He claimed that the government could acquire the land at minimum prices, denying farmers the fair market value for their land.
