Joshi seeks CAG inquiry into expenditure during Maha Kumbh

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday said that a Comptroller Auditor General inquiry should be conducted into expenditure made during Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad.

"A complete inquiry should be conducted and I will say that a CAG probe should be conducted into expenditure made into entire Kumbh mela," Joshi told reporters in a reply to a question.

He said that as central fund was provided for the Mela, a ‘special audit’ should be done regarding the expenses incurred during the occasion.

On a query on Azam Khan, who has recently resigned as the in-charge of Maha Kumbh Mela management owing moral responsibility for the stampede incident at Allahabad railway station, Joshi said that the entire state government is ‘accountable’ for it.

"Whatever happened at Kumbh, the accountability is of the entire government and Azam Khan is part of it," he said.

"The pilgrims had no information where to go and how. The responsibility is of the state government as well as the railways. This cannot be one sided," the BJP leader said.

He claimed that neither proper information were given at the platform not there was any management after the incident took place.

"There was no one to take the injured and ambulance reached after two-three hours and doctors were also not available," he alleged.