Confusion in Cong over B’luru stampede: Public fury mounts on state govt

By Shyam Sundar Vattam

Mysuru

The Congress leadership in the national capital is in a state of confusion over the unfolding events in Karnataka, following the tragic death of 11 people in a horrific stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The incident occurred during a celebratory event held on Wednesday last week to honour the IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

On the day of the incident, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar gave a clean chit to the Bengaluru police, praising their handling of an estimated 6-7 lakh crowd that had gathered outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of their cricketing idols. His statement came even as the stampede claimed the lives of 11 innocent people.

The very next day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a contradictory stand by suspending six police personnel, including the incumbent Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, holding them responsible for the tragedy.

Adding to the confusion, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "What’s happening in Karnataka?" at around 10:30 PM, tagging AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and CM Siddaramaiah, seeking clarity on the conflicting statements from the state leadership. However, before the media could pick up the post from the common media news-sharing platform, the Chief Minister’s media team deleted the tweet to avoid further embarrassment for the ruling party.

Public Outrage and Political Fallout

The tragic deaths have triggered public outrage, with citizens squarely blaming both the Chief Minister and his deputy. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation across the country, especially since the government organised the felicitation function for a team that had very few players from Karnataka. The decision to fly in the RCB team on a special flight just hours after the final match — without allowing sufficient time for police to prepare security measures — has further angered the public.

Critics claim the Congress-led state government hoped to gain political mileage by honouring the team, but as tragedy struck, they conveniently shifted the blame onto the police force to deflect responsibility. With mounting pressure and national attention, the state government announced a magisterial inquiry led by the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban — an action many citizens have dismissed as a mere eyewash.

Regardless of the inquiry’s outcome, this tragedy is expected to leave a lasting scar on the Siddaramaiah government and may significantly impact its credibility in the years ahead.