Siddaramaiah also listed out the stampedes that took place in the country in the recent past—including the stampedes at Prayagraj and Delhi earlier this year—in BJP-ruled states and asked whether the BJP had blamed the government for such accidents. (PTI Photo)Attributing the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that killed 11 people on June 4 to “mass hysteria”, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday pinned blame on the police for failing to prevent it.Siddaramaiah said that there was mass hysteria in the city after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won its maiden IPL title, even though there are only a couple of players from Karnataka in the team. The aspirations created following the win, he added, led authorities to permit the team’s victory celebrations.“To this, even the government has to succumb at times. Responding to people’s aspirations becomes important and is a sign of democracy,” Siddaramaiah said on Friday, responding to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition BJP for discussion on the issue at the start of the Monsoon Session of the legislature.Justifying the action against five police officials following the stampede, he said that they should have acted as soon as RCB officials announced a celebration at the stadium. “Despite posts by the RCB handle asking fans to gather at the stadium, what action did police officials take? They did not try to get the posts down,” Siddaramaiah said, accusing them of conniving with RCB staff to allow the event.Apart from FIRs against those involved, Siddaramaiah pointed out that he had sacked his political secretary, K Govindaraju, following the incident. The intelligence chief is also transferred, he said. The chargesheet of the case is ready and will be filed as soon as the high court permits, he said, dismissing calls for his, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s and Home Minister G Parameshwara’s resignations.Siddaramaiah also listed out the stampedes that took place in the country in the recent past—including the stampedes at Prayagraj and Delhi earlier this year—in BJP-ruled states and asked whether the BJP had blamed the government for such accidents. “Did (UP Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath resign after the stampede at Kumbh Mela?” he asked.On the BJP’s allegations that the Karnataka government sought political mileage by organising the event, Siddaramaiah read out a tweet from the state BJP handle, which called Parameshwara “incapable” for denying permission to a procession of RCB players on an open bus. “If we had not given permission, the BJP would have started a campaign against it,” he said.Story continues below this adSiddaramaiah’s remarks were in addition to the response tabled by Parameshwara on Thursday evening. He had noted that the government released Rs 25 lakh to each of the families of victims, while the treatment expenses of the injured were borne by the state. “We have taken necessary action following the incident. A Bill on crowd management was tabled, and a standard operating procedure for large crowds is being drafted,” he said.Unhappy with the replies by Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara, Leader of Opposition R Ashok said that the government had failed to respond to the questions raised by Opposition legislators. Why did the government violate its own rules for holding such events, he asked, holding the state government directly responsible for the stampede deaths. BJP legislators also staged a walkout over the issue.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd