Siddaramaiah blames KSCA for RCB event chaos

BENGALURU

 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under fire after a deadly stampede at the RCB victory celebration, clarified that he attended the event only upon invitation from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), denying any involvement in organizing the function.

Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said, “The KSCA secretary and treasurer invited me, and I was informed the Governor would also be present. I simply attended on their request. I was not invited to the stadium itself.”

The incident occurred outside the Vidhan Soudha, near Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the Chief Minister and other leaders met cricketers during the team’s IPL victory march. Lakhs of fans had gathered at the stadium to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title.

However, the presence of multiple VIPs allegedly diverted police deployment. With over 5,000 police personnel spread thin, crowd control failed, leading to a stampede that killed 11 people and injured 47. The opposition BJP has held the government responsible, pointing to inadequate planning and VIP interference.

In response, the state government blamed the police for failing to manage the crowd and suspended three senior officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, for dereliction of duty.

The event, which was meant to mark a historic moment for the city’s cricket fans after 18 years of anticipation, turned tragic. Families of the deceased have been granted increased compensation following public outrage.

Amid mounting criticism, calls for accountability continue, as investigations are underway to assess lapses in coordination between the government, police, and event organizers.