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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday slammed the Karnataka government over the Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 people during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations.
Joshi demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, citing their "irresponsible and insensitive" handling of the crowd. According to Joshi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) had warned that large-scale celebrations within 24 hours of the victory would be risky. Despite this, Shivakumar ignored the letter and participated in the celebrations. The Police Commissioner had also requested to postpone the event due to insufficient manpower, but his appeal was disregarded "They (Karnataka government) have no moral authority to continue because they have suspended the Police Commissioner and other senior officials. The DCP had written a letter stating that it was risky to have such large-scale celebrations within just 24 hours of victory... The Police Commissioner meets the Home Minister on a daily basis, but on that day, he sent a message stating his inability to meet, citing his overnight duty following RCB's win. At 8:30 am, he received information that a huge celebration is being planned in the city. He immediately requested to postpone the celebrations since it is very difficult to arrange and deploy manpower at such short notice. The DCM ignored the letter of the DCP and personally went on to take part in the celebrations... I demand the resignation of CM and DCM...," Joshi said. Joshi emphasised that the state government bears moral responsibility for the tragedy and questioned their decision to suspend the Police Commissioner and other senior officials. Earlier on Sunday, CM Siddaramaiah said that five officers of the police department have been suspended. "The intelligence chief and the political secretary to the Chief Minister have been replaced. The case has been considered seriously, and appropriate action has been taken. The government has not done anything wrong. But the incident has caused sorrow," he said. He said that the state BJP's duplicitous stance is visible. "The state BJP has written a letter saying that RCB has fulfilled the dream of many years, and not allowing the procession in an open bus shows the inadequacy of the Home Minister. But now they are complaining about the government after the incident," CM Siddaramaiah added. He further said that the government has not taken any wrong step in this case. "And since legal action has been taken against the guilty, there is no question of embarrassment for the government. In the case of the Kumbh Mela bridge collapse in Uttar Pradesh, did the Chief Minister there resign when people died? Did the BJP and JDS ask for the resignation of the Chief Minister there?" he questioned. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team was officially felicitated by the Karnataka government on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha (State Assembly) on June 4, before the stampede incident occurred at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following the Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives and left many injured, the Karnataka Government on June 5 suspended top police officials at the Cubbon Park Police Station and formed a one-man commission under a retired High Court Judge to probe the incident. (ANI)
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