Key Points

A tragic stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebration resulted in 11 deaths and 30 injuries. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy strongly criticized Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, claiming his "impatience and immaturity" caused the incident. Shivakumar defended the event's organization, stating no one expected such an uncontrollable crowd. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for victims' families and free medical treatment for the injured.

Key Points: Kumaraswamy Blasts Shivakumar Over Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy

  • Kumaraswamy demands Shivakumar's removal from cabinet
  • 11 people died during RCB victory celebrations
  • Event organisers blamed for poor crowd management
  • CM Siddaramaiah announces compensation for victims
4 min read

There should have been appropriate security and caution: HD Kumaraswamy on Bengaluru stampede

HD Kumaraswamy accuses Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of recklessness in deadly RCB celebration stampede that killed 11 fans

"There should have been appropriate security and caution - HD Kumaraswamy"

New Delhi, June 5

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of being responsible for the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that claimed the lives of 11 and injured 30 others.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the incident was caused by the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister's "impatience, immaturity, and irresponsibility."

Addressing a late-night press conference at his official residence in New Delhi, the Union Minister demanded that "the person responsible for this tragedy must be immediately sacked from the cabinet."

He criticised the Congress government in Karnataka as being run by "arrog

ant fools" and said, "We have a Chief Minister who is completely inactive. He has no control over the Deputy CM. As for the State Home Minister, there's no point in discussing it. He merely obeys commands."

Referring to the government's felicitation event near Vidhana Soudha, Kumaraswamy said, "While four people lay dead in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, DK Shivakumar continued with the felicitation ceremony as if nothing had happened. How else do you describe such a government other than calling it an arrogant one?"

Kumaraswamy expressed dismay over the state's haste in organising a felicitation and said, "On Tuesday night, the team won the IPL trophy. What was the rush to organise a felicitation event immediately? Who invited the team? Why this urgency? Everyone knows the role the Deputy CM played in all this," he stated.

"Who rushed to the airport on Wednesday morning to receive the team? Who turned it into an event? It was just the Deputy CM and his entourage. Was this the DK Shivakumar RCB team?" Kumaraswamy questioned sarcastically.

"Why hold two separate events? One program, well-organised with proper preparation, would have been enough. There should have been appropriate security and caution. Instead, everything was rushed simply to glorify himself. As a result of this recklessness, sports fans lost their lives," he said.

Kumaraswamy criticised the DCM's conduct at the stadium and said, "After his show at Vidhana Soudha, the Deputy CM reached the stadium. Right outside the stadium lay the bodies of the deceased. Rather than stopping the event, he walked onto the ground, lifted the trophy, and kissed it. Did he play the match and win the cup himself? Perhaps even the players didn't get the opportunity to touch the trophy. In the midst of deaths, he used RCB's win for his own PR and self-glorification."

"This kind of recklessness cannot be tolerated. If the Chief Minister truly has any strength, courage, or leadership, he should start by removing such a person from his cabinet," the Union Minister demanded.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar complimented the state police force for controlling the massive influx of people during the RCB celebrations.

"Again, I'm telling on record. I should compliment my Police officers...morning also, they wanted to have a procession, they wanted to bring a vehicle from the airport itself...Police guided us not to...that's why I rushed to the airport and ensured nothing went wrong...in Vidhana Soudha, also we were very cautious...," DK Shivakumar said.

"We never expected such an incident to happen. No political party or official wanted this. They did their best, but there was an uncontrollable crowd," he added.

The Karnataka DyCM also announced postponing all programs except the cabinet meeting on June 5.

After the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed a press conference and said 11 people died and 33 were injured in the stampede.CM Siddaramaiah said that the government will also provide free treatment to the injured.

"A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured."

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has expressed his condolences to families who lost their members in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday and said BCCI had no information that such an event was being planned.

"This is a very unfortunate incident... We had no information that such an event was being planned... If such events are planned in the future, then proper arrangements should be made... Those who were sitting inside the stadium had no information about the incident," Arun Dhumal told ANI.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rahul K.
This is heartbreaking 💔. 11 lives lost because of poor planning and political showmanship. As a Bengaluru resident, I'm ashamed of how our leaders prioritized photo-ops over public safety. The Deputy CM's behavior was disgraceful - trophy kisses while bodies lay outside? Shameful!
P
Priya M.
While Kumaraswamy makes valid points, this tragedy needs solutions not political mudslinging. Crowd management in India is always reactive rather than proactive. We need permanent systems - better barricades, trained personnel, and strict capacity limits for such events.
S
Sanjay T.
As an RCB fan who was there, the crowd was insane but predictable! Police were overwhelmed from morning itself. Why didn't they cancel the stadium event when they saw the situation? 10 lakh compensation won't bring back lives. Need criminal negligence charges against organizers.
A
Ananya R.
Both sides are playing politics over dead bodies. The real issue is our systemic failure in event management. Remember Elphinstone Road stampede? How many more wake-up calls do we need? IPL should ban unofficial celebrations - let players celebrate privately without endangering fans.
V
Vikram J.
The Deputy CM's statement about "complimenting police" sounds tone-deaf when 11 people died under their watch. Instead of defending, leaders should apologize and resign. This isn't about politics - it's basic humanity. Those poor families...
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Neha P.
Why is no one talking about the IPL management's role? BCCI saying they "had no information" about the event is hard to believe. They must share responsibility - these celebrations happen every year. Need clear protocols between sports bodies and local administrations.

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