Stampede aftermath: Deaths have not cast black mark on Govt, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday rejected calls for political accountability for the death of 11 persons in a stampede on Wednesday outside of Chinnaswamy stadium insisting that the government had no role in that event and wondering if anyone resigned over deaths during the recent Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh.

The CM accused the BJP of playing politics over the issue and denied it had left a black mark on the Congress regime as it completed two years in office, while speaking to media persons in Mysuru. The CM also denied suggestions that the Congress high command had sought a report on the subject.

The government was not embarrassed by the incident as the government committed no mistake, he said, while adding that he was pained over the tragedy that occurred during the RCB IPL victory celebrations, and blamed negligence by the police for the congestion around the stadium.


Siddaramaiah rejected the allegations that Police Commissioner B Dayananda had been made a scapegoat, while adding that the government had taken a series of steps including suspension of five police officers, transfer of intelligence chief, and firing of his political secretary K Govindaraju.

Siddaramaiah said the subject for permission to hold the felicitation event on the steps of Vidhana Soudha did not come to him for clearance, but he okayed it when the officials informed him about it. The event was not organized by the government, but he attended along with the Governor on an invitation by the organisers. “I am not responsible for the event organized at the stadium,” the CM said, distancing himself from the celebrations at the stadium.

NOT AWARE OF DEATHS TILL 5.45 pm

The first death was recorded at a hospital at 3.50 pm, but he came to know about it only at 5.45 pm, the CM said, expressing his displeasure over the way the police handled the security.

In response to a query, he said the government would examine if the cricket stadium could be shifted to a site outside of Bengaluru. The government would look for a suitable location outside.