This was nothing short of an open invitation to death. For this, not only the top officials of the administration but also the RCB management cannot escape responsibility. It is absolutely unsatisfactory that the state government has merely filed a case of criminal negligence against a few individuals and handed over the investigation to the CID.
The death of 11 people due to mismanagement, extreme short-sightedness, and unwarranted political interference at the celebration organized in Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium to mark RCB’s IPL title victory is deeply distressing. The stampede occurred in part because politicians saw the event as an opportunity to gain popularity, completely disregarding the safety of cricket fans.
The police and RCB management showed a similarly irresponsible attitude. As people were dying in the stampede, celebrations continued inside the stadium. This was not only the height of insensitivity but also reflects how common people are treated as insignificant in the presence of VIPs in our country. Deaths due to stampedes at religious, social, political events, or railway stations are unfortunately common in India.
Rather than learning real lessons from such incidents, authorities only pretend to act—Bengaluru’s tragedy is a fresh and shameful example of this. Bengaluru is not just any city; it's known as the Silicon Valley of India. Clearly, such a painful incident here could have a significantly worse impact on the country’s global image.
The young people who came to celebrate RCB's win were not from rural areas—they were passionate cricket fans, including children and young women. The crowd, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite cricketers, could have been easily managed, but no arrangements were made. Everything was done hastily, and even police objections were ignored.
This was, in every sense, an open invitation to death. For this, not only top government officials but also the RCB management cannot shirk their responsibility. It is absolutely unsatisfactory that the state government has merely filed criminal negligence charges against a few individuals and handed over the investigation to the CID—because, after all, CID is a part of the Karnataka police, which had to reluctantly allow the celebration due to interference from top political leaders.
Ministers, including the Deputy Chief Minister, and other officials were present at the celebration that turned into mourning. Some even came with their families, all eager to take photos with the cricketers. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders are now saying the Bengaluru tragedy is unfortunate and should not be politicized. But aren’t these the same leaders who raise a storm over even minor incidents in states governed by other parties?