"Justice cannot be expected from the BJP government.." says Shivpal Singh Yadav on Hathras Stampede
Feb 21, 2025
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 21 : Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday questioned the BJP government's handling of the Hathras stampede, stating that justice cannot be expected under its rule.
"Justice cannot be expected from the BJP government... When I read the report, then I can say something," Yadav said.
Meanwhile, the Judicial report on the 2024 Hathras stampede incident has been handed over to the state government and is likely to be presented in the legislative assembly in the current budget session.
This came after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved presenting the report before the Vidhan Sabha.
About 121 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a 'Satsang' organised by a self-styled godman, Bhole Baba, aka Suraj Pal, in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on July 2, 2024. The incident took place in the Fulari village in the district.
As per reports, the event drew in a crowd of over two lakh devotees, while permission was only granted to have around 80,000 attendees.
The Uttar Pradesh police prepared a 3200-page chargesheet against 11 people about the stampede incident in Hathras. The chargesheet, however, does not mention Suraj Pal, alias Bhole Baba, who held the 'Satsang' in Hathras, according to defence lawyer AP Singh.
On July 12, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking direction to appoint a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired top court judge to inquire into the Hathras stampede incident.
A bench of then Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, observed that it is a disturbing incident, but it cannot entertain the petition as the High Court is robust to deal with this case. It asked the petitioner to approach the High Court with his plea.
"Everything does not have to come to the Supreme Court under Article 32. You can approach the High Court. They are robust courts. Of course, this is a disturbing incident," the bench said to advocate Vishal Tiwari, who filed the PIL.
The plea had sought direction to the committee to suggest and frame guidelines and safety measures to avoid such incidents at large public gatherings.
