The self-described "godman," Bhole Baba, expressed his dismay at the Hathras stampede on Wednesday, but acknowledged that everyone must eventually die and that nothing can stop fate. "Honee ko kaun taal sakta hai (nobody can avoid what has to happen)" he declared two weeks after a stampede at one of his "satsangs" claimed the lives of 121 people.

He continued, saying, "Jo aaya hai use ek din to jaana bhi hai, bhale hee koi aagey peechey ho." To put it roughly, it means that everyone will pass away at some point; the exact moment is uncertain. Bhole Baba whose real name is Suraj Pal, also reiterated the assertion that the stampede was the result of a "conspiracy," which he had previously stated via his attorney A.P. Singh.

Hathras stampede
Image Source: Rediff.com

"I was quite worried and sad following the July 2 tragedy. But there is nothing anyone can do to stop what must happen. There has undoubtedly been a conspiracy, as my lawyer and the eyewitnesses about the toxic spray claimed, and that much is accurate," he declared.

Bhole Baba went on to say that certain individuals are attempting to discredit his organization, which is founded on Sanatan and the truth.

“We have full faith in the SIT and judicial commission, and all the followers of the first Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam also believe that truth will come out and the conspiracy will be exposed,” he said. The ‘godman’ said that “we stand with the families of all those who died in the incident”. His representative, A.P. Singh, had earlier announced that Bhole Baba had arrived at his ashram in Kasganj's Bahadur Nagar village.

"He is now in his ashram and intends to remain here. He arrived from another ashram here. He was never in a hotel, someone's home, or another nation, according to Mr. Singh. The village is Baba's "janmasthali," or birthplace, according to the lawyer, and he last visited in 2023 for a single day.

An SIT and a judicial committee have been established by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the occurrence. The police station in Sikandrarau received a FIR, but it did not name the "godman" as an accused party.

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