Appasaheb’s followers wanted function during daytime: govt

The state govt has denied having had its way to hold the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in the day instead of in the evening, which could have saved some attendees from sunstroke. It said the government wanted to hold the function in the evening but followers of spiritual leader Appasaheb Dharmadhikari insisted on the daytime.

He is the recipient of the state's highest civilian honour. His followers had suggested daytime because they did not want to travel back home late in the night after the ceremony. The official clarification came following the Opposition's criticism that the government was careless in scheduling the event, and had fallen short of providing the facilities. Industry Minister and guardian minister of Raigad district, Uday Samant told a media conference on Monday that the opposition was politicising the tragic deaths by creating unnecessary doubts.

Following Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's visit to the hospital, opposition leaders Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray and a host of others, also went there Sunday night. They were united in saying that if the function was held in the evening, the organisers could have avoided the tragedy. Some of them wanted the leaders/officials responsible in the Cultural Affairs Department and local administration booked for homicide.

"The temperature is very high these days and hence it needs to be probed as to why the event was scheduled in the afternoon. It could have been held in the evening and Amit Shah could have reached the venue by helicopter," Pawar said.

About 18 people who attended the function are being treated in hospital. Pic/Sameer Markande

MNS president Raj Thackeray visited on Monday and endorsed the opposition's stand on the event's schedule, but ruled out any bad intention on part of the organisers. "The government could have prevented the tragedy. Instead of inviting so many people in the daytime for such a big event, the award ceremony could have been held at Raj Bhavan. It is difficult to hold any particular individual responsible for the unfortunate incident," he said.

Also read: Kharghar heatstroke deaths: Four avoidable lapses that led to tragedy

In reply to a question, he said so many could be invited only with a political motive. But Samant denied this. "The followers came in large numbers on their own. There was no need to invite them," he retorted. Samant confirmed 13 deaths and informed that 18 more people were being treated at various hospitals. Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's office said he would not address a media conference or brief media persons.

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Samant said it wasn't a matter to be politicised. "The state government has worked in consultation with Dharmadhikari's followers. Some 5,000 Shri Sadasya followers worked for many days with the administration to create the facility. The state government wanted the function to be held in the evening, but the followers suggested that the event be held in the morning or afternoon hours, because they did not want the attendees to travel back home late in the night. The followers were expected to travel long distances to reach the Kharghar venue," said Samant.

The minister said the function, to be attended by the union minister Amit Shah, was scheduled to begin at 12 noon, but was rescheduled to start at 10.30 am. "CM Shinde and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Shah to advance the start because they wanted the event to end early," said Samant. The minister blamed the heat wave on the climate that changed two days ahead of the event. "Many people had arrived a day before the event. The climate changed in two days leading the temperature to rise to 34-35-36 degrees Celsius," he said and denied any medical negligence and lack of facilities that could have bettered the situation for the 20-22 lakh attendees.

'No lack of facilities'

According to Samant, 2,300 taps were installed to provide drinking water, 250 water tankers were available at as many toilet blocks. Among medics, 350 doctors, including 80 super specialists, were on duty. In addition, 150 pharmacists, 150 nurses and 73 ambulances (that included 19 cardiac) were in service. A 4,000-bed make-shift health centre and a blood bank were also among the facilities made available. Over 1,000 buses ferried the followers from the railway station to the venue and back.

'Lodge case against govt'

State Congress President Nana Patole demanded a case of culpable homicide against the Shinde government. "Thirteen people have died because of the carelessness of the government and 500 are being treated. It's a shame that arrangements were not made. The government has used the followers of Dharmadhikari for political gains. The leaders were seated on an air-conditioned platform while people suffered in the heat. Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said Dharmadhikari had himself suggested that the event be held at noon. The government has gone to the extent of levelling allegations against a spiritual leader like Dharmadhikari to save its skin."

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve blamed the cultural ministry which organised the event. "The police should register a case of culpable homicide. The government is trying to hide the exact data. They should come clear on the statistics," Danve told the press.

'Don't politicise incident'

Maharashtra Bhushan awardee, Dattatreya Narayan or Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, has appealed to people against politicising the incident. "I am deeply pained by what has happened to my family. The members of my own family have been taken away and my grief is beyond words. We in the Shri Sadasya Parivar have stayed together for generations, and we are with the members who have lost their kin. The incident was unfortunate and I expect that it should not be politicised," he said in a statement on Monday evening."

Inputs from Faizan Khan

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No of beds at health centre at venue