Karnataka Deputy CM Takes On BJP Over Stampede Politics

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar launched a pointed attack against the BJP on Tuesday, accusing them of using the recent Chinnaswamy stadium stampede to gain political mileage. He alleged that the BJP has a pattern of exploiting tragedies for their political benefit.

Shivakumar responded to BJP protests demanding accountability by saying, "Do we need to carry the BJP on our shoulders for criticizing the government on the stampede? Who is responsible for the stampedes in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and many railway stations across the country? Over a hundred people died in a UP temple stampede. I visited a plane crash site in Ahmedabad; did I say a word about the Union government?"

He emphasized that the Karnataka government has already taken action, forming a one-man commission for investigation. Shivakumar claimed Congress has never politicized similar incidents, stating, "They are accusing us as they are losing their political base." He expressed confidence in Congress returning to power in Karnataka in 2028 and addressed the High Court's stay on re-tendering Bengaluru's waste disposal, vowing to challenge the order.

(With inputs from agencies.)