People unable to control ‘upadrav’ on Holi had called Maha Kumbh a ‘Mrityu Kumbh: Yogi Adityanath’s jibe at Mamata Banerjee

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has taunted his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over her past remarks where she had called the Maha Kumbh a ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ (festival of death) over accidental deaths at the mega religious gathering. Referring to communal clashes in Bengal during Holi, UP Chief Minister told PTI, “People who were unable to control the disturbance (‘upadrav’) during Holi, had said that the Maha Kumbh of Prayagraj was a ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. But, we said that this is not ‘Mrityu’ (death), it is ‘Mrityunjay’ (victory over death) It is a Maha Kumbh.”

“For the first time, people came to the Maha Kumbh from Tamil Nadu. Devotees also came from Kerala. The population of Uttar Pradesh is 25 crores, and Holi celebrations also concluded peacefully here. But in West Bengal, several disturbances took place during Holi,” CM Yogi added.

Uttar Pradesh only place capable of successfully organising such a massive event: CM Yogi

Highlighting the success of the recent Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, CM Yogi said, “More than 66 crore devotees participated in the event, yet not a single criminal incident occurred. Uttar Pradesh is the only place in the world capable of successfully organising such a massive event.”

“Not a single case of harassment, kidnapping, robbery, or murder was reported. 66 crore people arrived, participated and left happily. Those who couldn’t attend felt they missed out, but those who did were left in awe,” the UP CM recently said while talking about Maha Kumbh 2025.

Communal clash in Birbhum, West Bengal on Holi

On the occasion of Holi on March 14, a 20-year-old youth was killed in a scuffle during celebrations in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Following a communal disruption during Holi festivities in Sainthia, Birbhum district, twenty-one people have been detained. The incident took place on Friday evening when a group of young people celebrating with music was reportedly told to cease by members of another community. The disagreement escalated rapidly, resulting in stone-throwing between the two groups. Authorities reported that several people suffered minor injuries and received medical care.

Three to four youths had approached Akash Choudhury alias Amar, while he was celebrating Holi with his friends near his home in Titagarh. As per the local police, as a tiff broke out, Amar was repeatedly stabbed in his neck and other parts of the body by the assailants leading to his death.
As a safety precaution, the state government has implemented a suspension of internet services in Sainthia town and five nearby panchayat areas linked to the Sainthia police station until March 17. This measure, enacted in accordance with the Telecommunications Act of 2023, is intended to uphold public safety and prevent any further provocation of unrest.

The police acted promptly upon learning of the clash, arriving at the location and averting any escalation of tension. Officials have urged the community to remain composed and collaborate with law enforcement as efforts continue to return the area to a state of normalcy. The incident sparked a row across the state and the nation amid Holi celebrations and over the same issue, Adityanath took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee.