On Friday (31st January) morning, controversial ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai objected to an editorial published by The Times of India wherein the newspaper provided context to the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The incident, caused by the uncontrollable surge of devotees, led to the deaths of 30 people and injured 60 others. The Times of India on Wednesday (29th January) attempted to put the tragedy in perspective.
In its editorial, the newspaper pointed out that a whopping 10 crore people are participating in the auspicious Hindu festival and that a temporary breakdown of arrangements was expected.
A leading newspaper editorial gives ‘context’ to the Maha Kumbh stampede by comparing the death toll to those who die of Alzheimer’s disease every year. Says some disorder is almost ‘inevitable’ in large gatherings. Try telling this to the families of the at least 30 people who… pic.twitter.com/up8fRmxK5Z
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 31, 2025
While noting that some disorder was almost inevitable, The Times of India, in its editorial, added that news must be analysed in the bigger context, i.e. crores of Hindu pilgrims went unharmed.
The newspaper further highlighted that although Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of death in the world, it never made it to the front page.
Rajdeep Sardesai objected to the ‘contextualisation’ of the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela and mouthed platitudes about journalistic accountability.
Coincidentally, Sardeaai had downplayed the gruesome murder of Hindu activist Prashanth Poojary at the hands of Muslim extremists in 2015 by providing a ‘political context’ to it.
