CM defends action against police; says govt didn’t organise felicitation event in front of Vidhana Soudha

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended the government’s action against police officials for security lapses during the function organised to felicitate players of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during which 11 people died in a stampede.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended the government’s action against police officials for security lapses during the function organised to felicitate players of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during which 11 people died in a stampede.

Contending that the allegations against his government on the matter by the BJP and JD(S) were politically motivated, Mr. Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru on Sunday that it was the responsibility of the police to ensure security for the felicitation function. Hence, action had been taken against them as there was prima facie “dereliction of duty”, he said.

Also, the Chief Minister sought to make it clear that the government did not organise the functions to felicitate the players either in front of the Vidhana Soudha or at the stadium.

“I was invited to participate in the function in front of the Vidhana Soudha by the KSCA secretary and treasurer,” he said, while adding that the KSCA representatives even informed him that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was also attending the event.

Referring to the exchange of communication between DPAR Secretary Sathyavathi G. and the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Vidhana Soudha security over the felicitation function in front of the State Secretariat, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the DPAR Secretary was not at fault. He said the DPAR Secretary had responded to the letter by setting certain conditions to the police.

Besides, Mr. Siddaramaiah emphasised that no untoward incident took place during the felicitation function organised in front of the Vidhana Soudha. Though the first death due to the stampede was reported at 3.50 p.m. on June 4, he was informed about it only at 5.45 p.m. that day, he said.

He said the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda did not keep him informed about the security situation. “Should he not keep the head of the government informed? He did not,” he said.