Title - Akhilesh govt orders probe into Allahabad stampede

Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government has finally ordered a judicial probe headed by retired justice Onkareshwar Bhatt into the Allahabad railway station stampede on Mauni Amavasya day killing 37 devotees.The decision, which was taken late last night, is expected to avert further ruckus in the Vidhan Sabha over the issue. Principal Secretary Home R M Srivastava said that the enquiry headed by Justice Bhatt would submit its report within two months.On the day of the accident, on February 10, the state government had ordered an enquiry by the Chairperson Board of Revenue. Later during his on-the-spot visit to the site of the accident CM Akhilesh Yadav had virtually given a clean chit to his officers raising doubts over the value of such an inquiry.On the opening day of the budget session on February 14, the BSP and the RLD had disrupted the house demanding a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge. The BJP had boycotted the Governor’s address to the joint session of the Vidhan Sabha demanding a similar probe.

Later the House had to be adjourned as the Opposition created furor refusing to budge from its demand for a judicial probe.

As the Vidhan Sabha is meeting on Tuesday after a long weekend, the state government decided to accept the Opposition’s demand of a judicial probe to ensure peace inside the house when CM Akhilesh Yadav is expected to present his second budget.