Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 13 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reaffirmed that 66 crore devotees and saints visited during the Mahakumbh, which concluded last month, and said that such a gathering has never been witnessed before.

‘You all saw how grand and divine Mahakumbh was. This was the result of the blessings of seers... More than 66 crore devotees and saints visited Prayagraj within 45 days. Such a huge gathering of saints and devotees was never before seen in the world,’ Yogi Adityanath said at an event in Agra.

Speaking about the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Chief Minister said that building the temple was once considered impossible, but the resolve was fulfilled.

‘Building a grand Ram Temple at Sri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, which was called impossible by the people but that resolve was fulfilled,’ he said.

In an exclusive interview with ANI on Wednesday, Adityanath responded to critics, particularly West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had labelled the recent Mahakumbh in Prayagraj as ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ due to alleged mismanagement.

Adityanath countered that the event was actually a ‘Mrityunjay Mahakumbh,’ emphasising its success despite challenges.

He claimed that the West Bengal government was intimidated by the massive influx of devotees from Bengal to Prayagraj, with 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims arriving daily between January 13 and February 26.

He criticised opposition parties, including the Congress, RJD, and Samajwadi Party, for their negative remarks, calling them an ‘insult to the faith of India’ and an act of ‘appeasement.’

‘Every day from Bengal, from January 13 to February 26, 50,000 to 100,000 devotees used to come to Prayagraj. The West Bengal Government got scared to see the crowd as their railway stations and airports were filled with people heading to Prayagraj... Whether it is the West Bengal Government, the Congress, the RJD, or the Samajwadi Party, whatever they have said about the Mahakumbh is an example of their appeasement. It is an example of insulting the faith of India. But the Mahakumbh has proved that it was a Mrityunjay Mahakumbh,’ the UP CM stated.

Notably, 30 people reportedly lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual on January 29 at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

Despite the challenges, the Mahakumbh festival achieved record-breaking success, with over 60 crore devotees taking the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

Yogi Adityanath credited the success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that over 66 crore devotees took a dip in the holy Triveni during the 45 sacred days.

(ANI)