I take responsibility for temple mishap: Jaswant Singh

Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh offeres to "take the responsibility" for the mishap at the Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan in which at least 144 people were killed in a stampede.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh on Tuesday offered to "take the responsibility" for the mishap at the Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan in which at least 144 people were killed in a stampede.

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Singh, one of the founding member trustees of the Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur district, said: “If you want to place charges, I'll take the responsibility”. He was replying to persistent queries by reporters if he was ready to accept responsibility for the incident in the BJP-ruled state.

While expressing his grief, Singh said it is very difficult to "control the situation in such places".

“The place where coconuts are broken is quite slippery because of the coconut water. If one slips, there will be a ripple effect and many will get affected,” Singh tried to explain.

Singh, who belongs to Jasol village in Barmer district of Rajasthan, said the tragedy was "quite personal" for him. He has been a Member of Parliament from Jodhpur and his wife also belongs to the city.

Chamunda Devi temple lies within Mehrangarh Fort and is run by a trust.

At least 144 people were crushed to death on Tuesday when hundreds of worshippers fell over one another due to a stampede at the Chamunda Devi temple complex in Mehrangarh fort on the first day of the Navratra religious celebrations.