Lucknow: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, has called for an impartial and thorough investigation into the Hathras stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 121 individuals, mostly women. Gandhi’s demand aims to uncover any lapses by authorities that may have contributed to the tragedy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Rahul Gandhi penned a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on July 6, which he also shared on social media platform X. In his letter, Gandhi expressed his deep concerns about the incident and advocated for immediate compensation for the families of the victims. He highlighted his visit to Aligarh and Hathras, where he met with the bereaved families and witnessed the extent of the devastation.

Gandhi’s letter points out potential administrative failures that could have led to the overcrowding at the event, which was far beyond its permitted capacity. He has called for accountability and actions against those responsible for any oversight. The stampede occurred at a Satsang by Hindu guru Suraj Pal, known as ‘Bhole Baba’, on July 2 in Hathras. Following the tragic event, an FIR led to the arrest of the event manager Dev Prakash Madhukar and six others.

In response to the widespread public demand for justice, the Uttar Pradesh government has established a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, led by retired Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastava. The commission began its investigation with a visit to Hathras to collect facts and testimonies from those affected by the stampede.