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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka unit President BY Vijayendra on Thursday, June 5, hit out at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, accusing it of evading responsibility and scapegoating police officers who, he alleged, were "overruled by political pressure."
His remarks came a day after the state government suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and other senior officials, following the stampede at the RCB victory celebration that claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured.
“This entire disaster was the result of cheap publicity stunts by CM Siddaramaiah, DCM DK Shivakumar and their cabinet, who prioritised photo-ops over the safety of innocent, young citizens,” Vijayendra said, directly blaming the top leadership.
He also alleged that police had initially denied permission for the event but were pressured into giving clearance due to political directives. “How unfair is it to ignore the department’s reasoned advice, and then shift the blame squarely onto them?” he asked.
Vijayendra criticised the decision to host a parallel felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha on the same day, saying it diverted police attention toward VIP security when law enforcement personnel were already “physically drained and mentally fatigued” from managing the previous night’s IPL final.
The state government has appointed a one-man judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Michael D Cunha to probe the incident. It has also handed the case over to the CID and ordered the arrest of officials from the KSCA, private event organiser DNA Networks, and the RCB franchise.
Vijayendra demanded the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah, DCM Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara, stating, “They must own up to their failure and resign in the larger interest of the state and its people.”