• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday defended his presence at the event celebrating RCBs victory in IPL 2025, where a stampede took lives of 11 people andleft 47 others injured, as per a report by NDTV.

He said that he didn't organise the event and attened it because he was extended an invitation by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). While talking to the media, the Karnataka CM said, "The secretary and treasurer of KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) came and invited me to the event. We didn't organise the function, the KSCA did." 

Furthermore, CM Siddaramaiah added, "They also informed me that the Governor is also coming, I only went there. I don't know anything apart from that I only went there after I was invited, they didn't invite me to the stadium".

ALSO READ: BJP Demands Special Assembly Session, Rs 1 Crore For Victim’s Kin After Bengaluru Stampede

On June 4, CM Siddaramaiah, along with other leaders, was present outside Vidhan Soudha near Chinnaswamy stadium and felicitated the RCB players.

The stampede brought the government, cricket body, and the franchise into question. On Thursday, Siddaramaiah suspended eight cops, including the Additional Commissioner (West), Central Division DCP, and others, for negligence.

Days later, he also sacked his political secretary, MLC K Govindraj. Meanwhile, the police arrested four individuals - RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale, and three staffers of the event organiser firm.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka Govt Ignored Police Alert On RCB Victory Parade, Claims Report

Siddaramaiah's accusation on KSCA comes after the cricket body sought legal refuge from the Karnataka High Court, blaming the government and denying its role in the event organisation. The KSCA sought quashing FIR registered against it stating that it's role was management of the stadium and cricket in the state and that the security outside the stadium was not its responsibility.

The High Court granted a relief to the body and directed the police to not arrest them. However, the KSCA secretary and treasure have resigned taking moral responsibility of the tragic incident.

The incident has also triggered political slugfest as the BJP has alleged that the cops were made scapegoat to protect the CM and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. The BJP has also demanded a special session of the assembly to discuss the incident.