Karnataka government working on strategies to wriggle out of fiasco over stampede tragedy

The scene at one of the gates of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The State government seems to be working out a strategy to provide a robust defence, both politically and legally, of its stance vis-a-vis the stampede incident, which claimed 11 lives on June 4. The plan appears to be to highlight the fact that it was in no way connected with the tragedy. The Karnataka High Court, which suo motu took note of the incident, is scheduled to hear the issue on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister are going to meet party central leaders in Delhi to present their views on the tragic incident.

While Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar left for Delhi on Sunday (June 8, 2025) night to visit the Delhi Municipal Corporation to understand municipal governance and solid waste management, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit the national capital on June 12 to attend the meeting of the Finance Commission on June 13. “Though officially, both are going for some other events, they will meet high command leaders to present their version of the incident that unfolded outside the stadium,” party sources said.

The development is unfolding after a series of actions, including the suspension of police officials, transfer of the intelligence chief, sacking of the Chief Minister’s political secretary, announcement of compensation to the kin of victims that was revised, and multiple probes ordered even as the Opposition is stepping up pressure for the resignation of the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

On Sunday (June 8, 2025) evening, Mr. Shivakumar and Dr. Parameshwara met the Chief Minister along with Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) G. Satyavathi —both of whom are under the cloud over allowing the celebrations. Sources privy to the meeting said the discussion was to take stock of the developments around the stampede, and come up with viable strategies to counter the Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) attack on the government. The issue of the upcoming court case also figured in the meeting, sources said. “The meeting discussed the leaked letter of a Deputy Commissioner of Police to the DPAR Secretary, in which certain conditions were imposed before the event was allowed.”

This also comes at a time when there are strong indications that Dr. Parameshwara has sought a change in portfolio since he feels he has been held accountable on multiple occasions without being given enough responsibility. “With intelligence being with the Chief Minister and Dr. Parameshwara having little scope in the transfers of IPS officers, he feels that he is being made a scapegoat,” party sources said.

Congress sources said the government is on the back foot ahead of the court hearing, and pointed out that it is concerned about what the court would say on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). “The government is preparing for the court case. Meanwhile, both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister will be doing rounds in Delhi, meeting central leaders to explain their version of events. The leadership is upset,” they said.

A source in the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that the AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala had spoken to the Chief Minister on the issue. Another source in the government said the party leaders believe that it would be hard to recover from the damage that has been caused to the government and the party.

A party functionary asked how protocol was violated at a function attended by the Chief Minister on the Vidhana Soudha’s grand steps, which had the DPAR’s approval. “They have bungled and are trying to shift the blame to the police. There has been a national outrage, and people are seeking accountability,” he said.