Bengaluru stampede: BJP blames Congress duo Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for tragedy

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, on Wednesday pointed to the "shadow boxing" between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as the cause of confusion that led to the tragic stampede in Bengaluru.

In a statement, the BJP leader said the rivalry between the two leaders, as they vied to claim credit for RCB's IPL victory, was responsible for the mishap, calling the deaths a "government-sponsored murder." He alleged that the Deputy CM rushed to the airport to pose for photographs with the players instead of overseeing arrangements in Bengaluru, while the police remained clueless about the procession. He also noted the absence of ambulances and fire brigades at the stadium.

Ashoka demanded ₹25 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased and called on the government to fully cover the medical expenses of the injured.