Lalu calls Maha Kumbh ‘faaltu,’ sparks controversy

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad has sparked a major controversy after labelling the Maha Kumbh as “faaltu” (meaningless) while commenting on the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. The incident, which occurred when passengers rushed to board Prayagraj-bound trains, resulted in 18 fatalities and many injuries.

In his remarks about the growing number of devotees heading to the religious gathering and the challenges of crowd management, Prasad said, “What meaning does Kumbh have? It is meaningless. Maha Kumbh, all of it is faaltu (nonsense).”

While offering condolences for the victims, Prasad attributed the tragedy to mismanagement by Indian Railways. “This unfortunate incident happened due to the Railways’ poor management, which led to the loss of so many lives. The Railway Minister must take responsibility,” said Prasad, who has previously served as the Railway Minister.

Prasad’s comments quickly drew backlash from BJP leaders and Hindu religious figures. Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma accused him of politicizing the tragedy. “His comments reveal the RJD’s true stance on Hinduism. Lalu Prasad’s statement calling the Maha Kumbh meaningless is part of his appeasement politics,” Sharma said.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also criticized Prasad, alleging that the RJD leader had a history of attacking Hindu traditions. “For the sake of political appeasement, they have forsaken their own values,” Sinha remarked.

The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station occurred due to confusion surrounding announcements for two Prayagraj-bound trains, leading passengers to rush towards the wrong platform. The initial investigation by Delhi Police suggested that confusion between the Prayagraj Express and Prayagraj Special caused the chaos, as passengers mistakenly believed their train was being moved to another platform.