BJP Demands CM and Deputy CM Resign Over RCB Stampede Tragedy in Bengaluru
Opposition blames Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar for ignoring police warnings ahead of RCB celebration that led to 11 deaths.
Bengaluru, June 8: A wave of political heat swept across Karnataka’s capital on Sunday as BJP legislators and MPs staged a dramatic protest at Vidhana Soudha, seeking the resignations of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. The spark? A stampede during the RCB IPL victory celebrations that left 11 dead and reignited simmering tensions between the opposition and the ruling Congress.
BJP Trains Its Guns on State Leadership
The demonstration—held at the symbolic Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Soudha premises—was led by R. Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, and senior MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. Amid chants of “justice for the victims,” BJP leaders accused the Congress government of gross negligence and demanded criminal accountability.
“The real RCB is not Royal Challengers Bengaluru—it’s Real Culprits of Bengaluru, and that’s Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar,” Ashoka thundered, referring to the government’s role in allowing a massive, inadequately managed crowd to gather in a high-security zone without appropriate safeguards.
Pre-Event Warnings Ignored, Say Police Sources
Adding fuel to the fire, a confidential letter from a senior police officer—leaked days after the incident—revealed that security officials had warned the government in writing about the unsuitability of Vidhana Soudha as the venue for a public event of such scale. The warning specifically cited risks of overcrowding and insufficient crowd control infrastructure.
As per The Economic Times, the letter urged caution, recommending a different venue better equipped to handle thousands of enthusiastic fans. That advice, it now appears, was either ignored or overridden by political considerations.
Calls Grow Louder for Governor’s Intervention
BJP leaders said they plan to submit a formal memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, seeking his intervention under constitutional provisions. “This was not a case of an unforeseen mishap—it was preventable,” said Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who was also present at the protest. “The responsibility doesn’t lie with the junior officers. It lies squarely at the top.”
Many in the party echoed this sentiment, accusing the government of hiding behind police scapegoats while avoiding scrutiny of decisions made at the highest levels.
State Government Responds With Suspensions and FIRs
Under mounting pressure, the Siddaramaiah government has taken disciplinary steps. Several senior police officers, including those responsible for event security, have been suspended, while FIRs have been lodged against organizers, according to Economic Times reports.
The Chief Minister called the tragedy “deeply unfortunate” and promised that “no one will be spared, irrespective of rank or influence,” in the ongoing investigation. Deputy CM Shivakumar also expressed sorrow and insisted that “lessons will be learned.”
But for critics, these statements ring hollow. “Administrative action is not justice,” said BJP MLC Narayanaswamy. “When decision-makers stay in office while subordinates are punished, accountability becomes a performance.”
Compensation Announced, But Public Fury Endures
The state has announced financial relief for victims’ families, pledging ₹5 lakh per bereaved household, in addition to medical coverage for the injured. Yet many see it as cold comfort in the face of what they describe as a “state-sanctioned disaster.”
Victims’ families, speaking anonymously to local Kannada media, said no government representative had visited them at the hospitals within the first 24 hours. Several questioned how such a poorly organized event could have been permitted at a sensitive government location without crowd barricades, water arrangements, or emergency access points.
Political Optics and a Battle for Narrative
Interestingly, the controversy has extended beyond administrative fault lines into the realm of political narrative warfare. Congress leaders, while expressing regret, accused the BJP of “milking the tragedy” for electoral mileage. “Let investigations proceed. Don’t politicize deaths,” said a senior Congress MLA off record.
However, the BJP’s response remains resolute. “We will not let this be buried under bureaucratic files,” said R. Ashoka. “If the Congress won’t take moral responsibility, we’ll take this issue to every district, every street, and every home in Karnataka.”
The Road Ahead: Investigation, Introspection, and Ire
With demands now growing for a judicial commission of inquiry, the spotlight remains firmly on the state government. Public pressure is mounting—not just for answers, but for accountability that goes beyond symbolism.
The Karnataka High Court has yet to take suo motu cognisance, but legal experts suggest that if procedural failures are found to have contributed to the deaths, criminal liability could extend beyond police ranks.
For now, the city mourns and protests in equal measure. In the backdrop of festive cheers that turned funereal, what remains is a question every grieving family is asking—who allowed this to happen?
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Raj Chaubey is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, specializing in political and geopolitical news. As a student at Delhi University, Raj combines academic rigor with a commitment to investigative journalism, aiming to uncover the broader implications of current events. His daily articles strive to offer our audience a deeper understanding of complex political landscapes and their global connections.
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
- Raj Chaubeyhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/raj_c/
