Uttar Pradesh can't pay to Pratapgarh stampede victims: Mayawati

Lucknow, Mar 6 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati claimed that the state was facing an "acute financial crisis" and was not in a position to give any monetary compensation to the families of those killed or injured in Thursday's Pratapgarh stampede.

On Thursday, 63 people were killed in a stampede in Kripaluji Maharaj Ashram in Mangarh village of Pratapgarh District.

In a press statement, Mayawati urged the Central Government to compensate the victims family.

"In view of the acute financial crisis currently faced by the state, I am appealing to the central government to be generous in giving away decent compensation to the families of those who have lost their lives or were injured in the unfortunate stampede at the ashram run by spiritual guru Kripaluji Maharaj in Mangarh village of Pratapgarh district," Mayawati said.

"However, in case the Union Government expresses its inability to pay, then we will squeeze our resources to mobilise funds for the purpose," the statement added.

Mayawati justified her stand by saying the Centre's National Calamities Relief Fund is meant for natural disasters and not of the kind of Pratapgarh incident.

"The centre does provide the states with a Calamities Relief Fund (CRF), but that is meant to be utilised only towards natural disasters and not tragedies like this one," she said.

In the statement Mayawati stated that she has asked all the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MPs to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demand Central assistance to meet the financial needs.

"I have therefore asked all my party MPs to call on the prime minister and seek his help for creating a central fund to meet the financial needs arising during such human tragedies," Mayawati said.

She further said in the statement that, the Uttar Pradesh Government has asked the Pratapgarh District Administration to to ensure that all necessary assistance is made available to the victims and their family members.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr. Singh had announced Rs. two lakh compensation from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the victims of Pratapgarh stampede. (ANI)