The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to stage a massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru today, targeting what it calls the Congress government’s “misrule” and its alleged responsibility in the recent stampede incident that claimed 11 lives. The protest aims to condemn the government for prioritising propaganda over public safety.
Ahead of the demonstration, a preparatory meeting was held in Mahalakshmi Layout constituency to mobilise local participation. The meeting took place at the Assembly office under the leadership of Mahalakshmi Layout MLA Gopalaiah. Key leaders in attendance included North District BJP General Secretary Balu Rangaswamy, Mandal President Raghavendra Shetty, Vice-President Jayaramaiah, and former BBMP members Rajendra Kumar, Mahadev, and Padmavathi Srinivas. Other prominent party workers and supporters such as B.D. Srinivas, Prasanna, and Dr. Nagendra also took part in the discussion.
During the meeting, leaders criticised the Congress-led state government for alleged negligence and mismanagement that led to the tragic stampede. They asserted that the incident was a direct result of crowd mismanagement during a government event, accusing the administration of using public functions for self-promotion without adequate safety measures.
Hundreds of party workers and supporters are expected to join the protest at Freedom Park, with BJP leaders vowing to continue their agitation until justice is delivered to the victims’ families and accountability is fixed. The protest underscores the increasing political tensions in Karnataka as the BJP positions itself as a strong opposition, challenging the ruling party’s governance on multiple fronts.