HD Kumaraswamy criticizes Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru

Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sharply criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the latter claimed that there was no stampede in front of Vidhana Soudha. Kumaraswamy took to X (formerly Twitter) to question whether Siddaramaiah considers himself the Chief Minister only of the steps of Vidhana Soudha or of the entire state. His post implied that Siddaramaiah’s focus appears limited to the legislative building, overlooking the larger issues faced by the people of Karnataka.

During the Vijayotsava celebrations held on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, no casualties occurred, and the event was peaceful. However, just outside the stadium, a tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the deaths of 11 RCB fans. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the stampede happened near the stadium and clarified that the incident was not related to Vidhana Soudha or its premises. He criticized those trying to shift blame onto police or government officials and questioned the opposition’s tactics of avoiding responsibility by targeting law enforcement.

Siddaramaiah further questioned whether Kumaraswamy considers himself the Chief Minister only of the steps of Vidhana Soudha or of the entire Karnataka. He condemned the opposition for politicizing the tragedy and accused them of attempting to divert attention from the real issues. The Chief Minister emphasized that the government was not responsible for the stampede, which occurred at the stadium, and expressed confidence that the investigation would bring out the facts.

The tragedy at Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in widespread outrage, with demands for accountability and better crowd management. The CID has issued notices to 45 individuals, including police officers, seeking their presence for investigation into the stampede. The incident has also sparked a heated political debate, with opposition leaders criticizing the government’s handling of large crowds and safety measures during such events. Overall, the events have highlighted the political tensions surrounding public safety and accountability in Karnataka.