He said he did not want to politicize the tragedy but it was evident that there were failures on the part of the administration.
“When the permit was for 80,000 people, then how did so many people get there? Action must be taken against whoever is guilty. The police deployment was inadequate,” he stated.
Rahul, who was in Aligarh and Hathras on Friday morning to meet the victims' families, said justice must be done and adequate compensation awarded.
“They should be given the maximum possible compensation. I ask the Prime Minister to show generosity in giving compensation because the victims come from poor families,” he said.
He said the Congress Party was with the families and would provide all possible help.
The stampede took place on Tuesday night at a satsang of self-proclaimed god Suraj Pal, who also goes by the names Narayan Sakar Hari and 'Bhole Baba'.
An FIR has been registered in the incident naming the organizers of the event, but the accused are yet to be arrested. Police arrested six people, known as sewadars, who supported the preachers and ran the event.
Police on Thursday carried out a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri in search of the self-styled god.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mainpuri Sunil Kumar said on Thursday that 'Bhole Baba was not found inside his ashram.
Hathras city superintendent Rahul Mithas also said that the preacher was not found in the ashram.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site of the tragedy and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
A three-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry has been constituted under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava to ensure completeness of the matter and transparency of investigation.
The Judicial Commission will investigate the stampede incident for the next two months and submit its report to the state government.
According to the prima facie report, the stampede took place when devotees rushed to seek blessings and collect soil around the god's feet, but were prevented from doing so by his security personnel. Then they began to push each other, causing several people to fall, causing chaos in the place.
--[ amita/dpb
“When the permit was for 80,000 people, then how did so many people get there? Action must be taken against whoever is guilty. The police deployment was inadequate,” he stated.
Rahul, who was in Aligarh and Hathras on Friday morning to meet the victims' families, said justice must be done and adequate compensation awarded.
“They should be given the maximum possible compensation. I ask the Prime Minister to show generosity in giving compensation because the victims come from poor families,” he said.
He said the Congress Party was with the families and would provide all possible help.
The stampede took place on Tuesday night at a satsang of self-proclaimed god Suraj Pal, who also goes by the names Narayan Sakar Hari and 'Bhole Baba'.
An FIR has been registered in the incident naming the organizers of the event, but the accused are yet to be arrested. Police arrested six people, known as sewadars, who supported the preachers and ran the event.
Police on Thursday carried out a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri in search of the self-styled god.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mainpuri Sunil Kumar said on Thursday that 'Bhole Baba was not found inside his ashram.
Hathras city superintendent Rahul Mithas also said that the preacher was not found in the ashram.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site of the tragedy and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
A three-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry has been constituted under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava to ensure completeness of the matter and transparency of investigation.
The Judicial Commission will investigate the stampede incident for the next two months and submit its report to the state government.
According to the prima facie report, the stampede took place when devotees rushed to seek blessings and collect soil around the god's feet, but were prevented from doing so by his security personnel. Then they began to push each other, causing several people to fall, causing chaos in the place.
--[ amita/dpb
