New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- Opposition parties on Sunday blamed the government for "gross mismanagement" at New Delhi railway station that led to a stampede in which 18 people died and demanded Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw resign taking moral responsibility.

Several opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left, Trinamool Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, accused the government of failing to make elaborate arrangements and "covering up" the actual number of deaths.

The BJP leaders, however, sought to defend the government by posting pictures on social media that showed the situation at the New Delhi railway station had turned normal.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said it was extremely shameful and condemnable that th...