PROTECT SAFETY OF SPECTATORS
BENGALURU
Opposition has erupted after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar hinted at allowing cricket matches to be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Senior advocate NP Amritesh has appealed to the officials of all the concerned departments that permission should not be given to host any cricket matches, including the IPL, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
He has submitted a detailed letter to the Chief Secretary of the state government, Home Department, Police Department, Fire and Emergency Services Department, Public Works Department, and Karnataka State Cricket Association, mentioning several points.
A suo motu inquiry is pending in the High Court into the stampede that occurred during the celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Expert reports have said that the stadium is unsafe for public gatherings. DCM D.K. Shivakumar has made a statement on the spot about granting permission to hold IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium when RCB fans put pressure on him. This is a direct political decision taken without consulting the concerned departments. Permission should not be given keeping in mind the loss of lives that has already occurred, ignoring expert reports.
The inquiry by Justice John Michael de Cunha’s commission found the stadium unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings. Safer alternative stadiums are available in the outskirts of Bengaluru or other cities, where it is better to host matches. Modern cricket is broadcast-based and can be broadcast live without crowds, Amritesh explained in the letter.
DCM DK Shivakumar, who spoke to the media after voting in the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections held on Sunday, had spoken about legally allowing international matches to be held again at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Keeping in mind the capacity to handle the crowd, we will use the Chinnaswamy Stadium appropriately within the legal framework and will also build another big stadium as an alternative. We will be careful not to let tragedies like stampede happen in the future. Be it IPL or World Cup matches, we will not let any opportunities slip away from here. We will organize it here. This is the honor of the state of Karnataka and Bengaluru. We will save it, the DCM had said.