Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Hits Back at BJP Over Chinnaswamy Stampede: “Don’t Politicize Tragedy, Show Your Resignations First”

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday launched a strong rebuttal to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid mounting criticism over the recent stampede tragedy near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. Responding to BJP’s demand for his resignation, Siddaramaiah accused the opposition of politicizing a tragic incident for narrow gains.

“Regarding the tragic stampede incident near Chinnaswamy Stadium, I request the BJP leaders in the state to first release a list of BJP leaders who resigned during similar incidents in the past before demanding our resignation,” said Siddaramaiah.

Calling the incident “an unfortunate accident”, the CM asserted that his government had taken full accountability. “As a responsible government, we have taken accountability for the incident. We have suspended senior police officers, including the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, and transferred the Chief of the State Intelligence Department. My political secretary has also been relieved of his duties. Additionally, we have constituted a one-member commission led by retired Justice John Michael Cunha to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.”

Despite these actions, Siddaramaiah expressed disappointment at the BJP’s ongoing protests. “Despite taking such decisive actions, the BJP leaders in the state continue to protest. This makes it evident that their motives are political rather than driven by genuine concern for the people. Politicizing tragedies is not new to the BJP. It is ingrained in their DNA to pounce like vultures over every incident of death, accident, or violence. Even if an elephant dies in their courtyard, they have the habit of turning their attention to a fly on their neighbor’s plate. The people of Karnataka have understood this pattern of behavior.”

Emphasizing the government’s empathy for the victims, the CM said, “We empathize with the grief and anguish of the families affected by every tragedy. This is why we do not exploit such incidents for political gain. However, given the BJP leaders’ repeated attempts to incite the public by dredging up these incidents, we feel compelled to expose their hypocrisy by bringing certain incidents during their rule to the attention of the people.”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and justice, Siddaramaiah concluded, “Our government is answerable to the 7 crore people of Karnataka. Hence, in the stampede case, preliminary action has been taken against those who appeared negligent. A comprehensive and impartial investigation is being conducted under the leadership of a retired judge. Based on the commission’s report, strict action will be taken against the culprits without hesitation. I urge the BJP leaders in the state to abandon their street theatrics and act in accordance with their conscience.”