HYDERABAD: Opposition parties, YSRC and the Congress, on Wednesday alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘documentary’ led to the stampede at the pushkar ghat in Rajahmundry.
Both parties said it was the shooting of a documentary film that was planned to portray Naidu as a very spiritual person delayed his departure from the ghat and forced the pilgrims to wait for three hours. “Naidu stayed at the pushkar ghat for over two hours so that the documentary filmmakers could capture on camera his and his family members’ rituals. Naidu should own moral responsibility for the horrific incident and stand as an accused,” the YSRC and Congress demanded separately.
Addressing newsmen here Wednesday, YSRC spokesperson Vasireddy Padma advised Naidu to accept responsibility for the tragedy.
“Naidu, instead of going to the Saraswati ghat, reserved for VIPs, went to the main ghat where the general public were supposed to take the holy dip. He stayed back for more than two hours for his documentary even as devotees who came from far off places were kept waiting,” she alleged. The YSRC leader further said the State government had set up a panel only to “cover up the misdemeanour of the Chief Minister”.
Levelling similar allegations against the Chief Minister, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy too demanded that Naidu own moral responsibility for the tragedy. “There is no need for any inquiry as the facts are very clear. The stampede occurred only because of the film shoot that was planned for Naidu’s family on the first day of Pushkarams. Naidu should own moral responsibility and step down,” Raghuveera said while addressing reporters in New Delhi.
The APCC boss also charged the Chief Minister with resorting to corruption while making arrangements for the ongoing Godavari Pushkarams. “Rs 28 crore was spent for Godavari Pushkarams in the State 12 years ago. But, now the State government has spent a whopping Rs 1,600 crore for the same. This itself shows the amount of corruption that has taken place in making arrangements for the ongoing pushkarams,” he said.