Following the tragic stampede at the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) victory celebration in Bengaluru, a controversy has erupted between the Karnataka Chief Minister's office and the Raj Bhavan. The Raj Bhavan has contradicted claims made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asserting that the Karnataka government was indeed the planner of the event and extended an invitation to the Governor.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had previously distanced his government from the organization of the RCB event, attributing the lapses to the police department's inadequate security arrangements. He stated that the Karnataka State Cricket Association had invited everyone to the event. However, the Raj Bhavan's statement directly challenges this assertion, indicating the government's active role in planning the celebration.
The stampede, which occurred on June 4th near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 47 others. It took place as a massive crowd gathered to celebrate RCB's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. The stadium, with a seating capacity of 35,000, was overwhelmed by an estimated crowd of over 800,000 people.
The event was initially planned to be held at Vidhana Soudha, where the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot were scheduled to receive the RCB team. However, the venue was later shifted to the stadium. A letter dated June 3rd from the Karnataka State Cricket Association requesting permission for the felicitation event at Vidhana Soudha further fuels the confusion surrounding the event's organization.
The incident has triggered a wave of criticism and political backlash. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a special session of the state legislature to discuss the stampede and has accused the government of negligence. A formal complaint has also been submitted to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that he invited the public to the celebrations without ensuring proper safety measures.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and has scheduled a hearing for June 10. The state government has also formed a one-man inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice John Michael Cunha to investigate the stampede and identify those responsible for any omissions or deficiencies that led to the tragedy.
Amidst the blame game, families of the victims are grappling with their immense loss. The father of one of the deceased, Bhumik, expressed his grief and accused the government of lapses in security arrangements. The government has announced the suspension of five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, in response to the incident. This move, however, has been criticized by the BJP, who claim that the government is scapegoating the police officers to shield itself from responsibility.
