The opposition has been furious over the Karnataka government’s decision to close the case against officials in connection with the 11 deaths in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede. Calling it a ‘government-sponsored’ incident, BJP leader R Ashok asked who was responsible for the deaths?
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [भारत]July 15 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashok on Wednesday criticized the Congress government’s decision to close disciplinary cases against senior officials in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede case. He raised questions as to who would be held responsible for the death of 11 people.
In a statement, Ashok alleged that the stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium during the IPL win celebrations on June 4, 2025 was the result of “government-sponsored” mismanagement and demanded accountability for the tragedy. The statement said, “Who is really responsible for the horrific stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium? Where is the justice for the 11 innocent victims of this government-sponsored incident?”
Serious allegations of opposition
The opposition alleged that permission to celebrate at two places on the same day was given by the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. It was also claimed that despite warnings from the police, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) Secretary Satyavati issued orders to go ahead with the event in front of the Vidhana Soudha. The statement also named the then Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and alleged that she was overseeing the administration during the event. The BJP also mentioned photographs of then Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar waving Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) flags during the celebrations.
clean chit to officials
On Tuesday, the Karnataka government issued orders closing departmental investigations against several IPS officers and senior bureaucrats linked to the stampede case. Those acquitted include former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vikas Kumar Vikas and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shekhar Tekkannavar. In Tekannavar’s case, the government issued a warning advising him to act responsibly in the future.
Following the government’s decision, the opposition alleged that the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DPAR Secretary and police officers have all been declared “innocent”. The statement asked, “Then who is responsible for the tragic death of those 11 innocent people? Did they come and die themselves?”
The leader further claimed that during the Assembly discussion on the issue, he had said that any investigation by the government would be an attempt to suppress the case and alleged that the Congress government had no intention of providing justice to the families of the victims. The statement further said, “Those who shed the blood of innocents in the intoxication of power will not escape the curse of the tears of those mothers. Power is not permanent. The public has forgotten nothing. The people will definitely teach a lesson to this ‘killer Congress government’.”
The Karnataka government has said that the decision to close the departmental inquiry has been taken after examining the defense statements of the officers and the opinion of the administrative department. (ANI)
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