Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Shobha Karandlaje have sharply criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government following the tragic stampede near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives and left over 30 people injured.
The incident occurred as thousands of fans rushed toward the stadium to participate in the victory celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after their maiden IPL title win. Overcrowding and a lack of crowd control measures led to a chaotic stampede at multiple entry gates. Speaking to IANS, Union Coal and Mines Minister and senior BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it “extremely unfortunate.”
“The state government failed to anticipate the turnout and make appropriate security arrangements,” Reddy said. “Instead of focusing on public safety, state ministers were busy taking selfies with cricketers. This is a grave administrative failure and the Chief Minister must take responsibility.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Reddy added:
“This horrifying incident is a direct consequence of mismanagement. The Karnataka government did not implement essential crowd control or emergency protocols. I urge the Chief Minister to act swiftly, ensure accountability, and prevent such tragedies in the future.” Echoing similar sentiments, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje called the incident “a complete collapse of governance.” Speaking to IANS, she said:
“The police failed to regulate crowd numbers, and the government didn’t even attempt to limit access. The situation spiraled out of control, turning a celebration into mourning.”
Karandlaje went on to demand the resignation of the state government:
“If they can’t manage a single public event, how can they run an entire state? The loss of young lives is heartbreaking and unforgivable.”
She also took to social media, writing:
“This isn’t just a mishap—it’s criminal negligence. The Congress-led Karnataka government must be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, RCB released a statement expressing grief over the incident:
“We are deeply anguished by the tragic loss of lives. The safety of our fans is of utmost importance. Upon learning of the situation, we immediately revised our program in consultation with local authorities.”
The stampede, which occurred despite the cancellation of an official victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, has raised serious questions about crowd management and security protocols. Police said they had been trying to control large gatherings since Tuesday night, but the sheer number of fans overwhelmed efforts. The Karnataka government has announced ₹10 lakh compensation for each bereaved family and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised that those responsible will be held accountable.
“This was an unexpected tragedy. We did not anticipate such a large turnout. I offer my condolences and assure strict action following the investigation,” the CM stated.
