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Key Points

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly rejected demands for his resignation following the tragic Bengaluru stampede. The incident, which occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations, claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 people. Siddaramaiah accused opposition leaders like HD Kumaraswamy of politically motivated criticism and emphasized that appropriate actions are being taken. The state government maintains that a judicial inquiry is already in progress to investigate the circumstances of the fatal stampede.

Key Points: Siddaramaiah Fights Kumaraswamy's Resignation Demand After RCB Tragedy

  • Bengaluru stampede killed 11 during RCB celebration
  • Siddaramaiah blames police commissioner for delayed response
  • Judicial inquiry already underway
  • Opposition demands government resignations
2 min read

CM Siddaramaiah rejects Kumaraswamy's demand for resignation over Bengaluru stampede

Karnataka CM rejects opposition's allegations over Bengaluru stampede, calls criticism politically motivated amid RCB victory celebration controversy

"The opposition is exploiting this tragedy for political gains - Siddaramaiah, Karnataka CM"

Mysore, June 8

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday dismissed demands for his resignation by JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy over the Bengaluru stampede tragedy, calling the allegations "politically motivated" and asserting that his government had acted swiftly against lapses.

The stampede, which occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, left 11 dead and over 50 injured. While the BJP and JD(S) have accused the state government of negligence, Siddaramaiah countered by questioning the opposition's "sudden concern for police accountability."

Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters in Mysuru, clarified that the stampede occurred at an event he was "not even invited to." He said that he was informed of the incident only at 5:45 PM, nearly two hours after the stampede (3:50 PM), and blamed the City Police Commissioner for the delay.

"Action has been taken against those who neglected their duties," he said.

He emphasised that no mishap took place during the government-organised felicitation near Vidhana Soudha, which was attended by the Governor. "The opposition is exploiting this tragedy for political gains," he added.

He accused Kumaraswamy of hypocrisy, noting that the JD(S) leader had remained silent on central government failures while targeting Karnataka's Congress government.

Siddaramaiah pointed out that a judicial inquiry demanded by the BJP-JDS alliance is underway. However, he rejected Kumaraswamy's claim that the government "threatened police," mocking the JD(S) leader's "newfound love for the police force."

The BJP and JD(S) have intensified pressure, labeling the stampede a result of "government incompetence" and demanding resignations from Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rajesh K.
This blame game after every tragedy is getting old. Instead of resignations, we need better crowd management systems. Our cities are growing but infrastructure isn't keeping pace. CM is right - why wasn't there similar outrage when similar incidents happened under previous governments? 🤔
P
Priya M.
As a Bengaluru resident, I'm tired of politicians using our pain for their gains. The police failure was clear, but Kumaraswamy suddenly waking up to demand resignations shows his opportunism. Let the judicial inquiry finish first - then we'll know who's really responsible.
S
Sunil T.
The CM saying he wasn't invited to the event doesn't absolve responsibility. As head of state, he should ensure systems work regardless of who organizes events. That said, opposition demands seem more about 2024 elections than genuine concern. Typical Indian politics!
A
Ananya R.
Heartbreaking incident 😢 But can we talk about why our crowds behave this way? I was at the RCB parade - people were climbing poles, pushing violently. No amount of police can control such madness. We need public awareness campaigns about crowd discipline.
V
Vikram D.
Both sides are wrong here. Government failed in crowd control, but opposition is clearly using tragedy for mileage. Instead of resignations, we need permanent solutions - better trained police, modern crowd control tech, and stricter event permissions. Bengaluru deserves better.
M
Meena S.
The speed at which politicians jump to score points shows their priorities. 11 lives lost and all they care about is mudslinging. Shameful! Compensation for victims' families and fixing systemic issues should be the focus, not this political tamasha.

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