"Behaved most irresponsibly": Union Minister Joshi on Bengaluru stampede
Jun 08, 2025
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 8 : Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday reiterated Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje's scathing remark on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar that they had "blood on their hands" for their "irresponsible and insensitive" handling of the crowd outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, which led to a stampede that killed 11 people on June 4 during RCB's IPL victory celebrations.
Joshi echoed Karandlaje's statement from a press conference on Saturday, in which she accused the leaders of celebrating despite the tragedy and shifting blame and further called for their immediate resignation.
"That is definitely there. I've seen her statement... They have behaved most irresponsibly... Deaths were announced although the celebration was going on... Police have clearly categorically denied that they cannot provide it; it is a risky thing; you don't do it despite all these things... It is the most irresponsible and insensitive behaviour of both the CM (and the Deputy CM)," Joshi said.
His remarks align with Karandlaje's earlier demand, "You have celebrated after their deaths... You have blood on your hands. Listen, Siddaramaiah, listen, DK Shivakumar, you have blood on your hands... You can't blame the Commissioner... You are also a culprit... I demand Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar resign immediately."
Joshi also dismissed Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Election Commission, where the Congress MP alleged that the Maharashtra Assembly election held last year was "rigged" and claimed that the same will be repeated in Bihar assembly polls due later this year.
"The Election Commission has given the reply. At the same time when elections were held in Jharkhand... They have won... If we could, we could also do it there... The same thing was in Karnataka and in Delhi... It is all stupidity," Joshi added.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission described the Congress MP's allegation as "unsubstantiated allegations."
The ECI stated that spreading misinformation is "disrespect towards law," and attempts to defame are "completely absurd."
