Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing scrutiny following a tragic stampede in Bengaluru during Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. The incident, which occurred outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in 11 deaths and 33 injuries.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Siddaramaiah addressed the media, expressing his sorrow and announcing a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, as well as free treatment for the injured. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, tasking officials with submitting a report within 15 days.

However, it was Siddaramaiah's reference to a past tragedy that stirred controversy. While responding to questions about alleged negligence from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Chief Minister stated that he did not criticize similar incidents in the past, specifically mentioning the Kumbh Mela, where he claimed 50-60 people died. "Such incidents happened in many places; I am not going to defend it by comparing them and saying that it happened here and there... 50-60 people died in Kumbh Mela. I did not criticise. If Congress criticises, then that is a different matter. Did I or the Karnataka government criticise?" he said.

Siddaramaiah's comparison drew immediate backlash. Critics argued that referencing a past tragedy did not excuse the current one and accused him of deflecting responsibility. The BJP has been particularly vocal, accusing the Congress government of "negligence" and "mismanagement." BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla went so far as to call the incident "state-sponsored criminal negligence and murder," demanding the resignation of Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara.

The Chief Minister has defended his government, asserting that he does not want to politicize the tragedy. He clarified that the event at the stadium was organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, with the government only providing permission and police support. He also pointed out that the crowd size was far beyond what was anticipated. While the stadium has a capacity of 35,000, an estimated 2-3 lakh people turned up for the celebrations. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who visited hospitals to check on the injured, explained that the sheer number of attendees overwhelmed security arrangements, leading to a chaotic situation where gates were broken, and a stampede ensued.

Adding to the complexity, initial reports suggest that a temporary slab over a drain near the stadium collapsed under the weight of the crowd, potentially contributing to the chaos.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his condolences, calling the incident "absolutely heartrending."