Former Indian Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju, has strongly criticized the Indian government for spending over Rs 9,000 crore on the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.   According to Kashmir Media Service, in an article for The Philox website, Katju argued that the substantial amount of taxpayer money could have been better utilized for building schools, hospitals, and other developmental projects to benefit the public. 

Katju, who referred to the belief that bathing in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers washes away sins as "superstition" and "unscientific," questioned why the government was promoting such practices by funding them.  He emphasized that, while people have the right to practice their religion and believe in superstitions, government support for religious events contravenes Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution, which encourages the promotion of scientific temper. 

The former judge also raised concerns over the politicization of the Kumbh Mela by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), linking the event to the party's strategy to secure Hindu votes ahead of upcoming elections, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.   Katju argued that such events should be held at the expense of the participants, not through government funding, in line with India’s secular constitution.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)