Karnataka CM and deputy CM attended the RCB celebration at Bengaluru stadium.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team and the Karnataka state government have come under heavy fire from former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi for the tragic stampede that killed eleven people and injured numerous others during the team's victory parade in Bengaluru earlier this month.
On June 4, thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the formal celebrations of RCB's first IPL title victory. The celebration, however, took a tragic turn when a violent stampede broke out as spectators attempted to push their way inside the stadium due to overcrowding.
In a recent interview, Lalit Modi expressed his deep condolences to the victims’ families and described the incident as a case of gross mismanagement.
“First and foremost, my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede. This should never have happened. The entire event was poorly planned and executed.
There is so much mudslinging and finger-pointing going on, but the issue is simple – the event should never have been allowed without proper arrangements in place. The authorities failed, and the team management should also have ensured fan safety before participating in the so-called celebrations,” Modi told IANS.
Modi was scathing in his criticism, adding, “The poor fans who died or were injured were simply passionate about the game and their team. They deserved better. This tragedy will haunt the RCB franchise and the players involved in the celebrations forever. Mark my words – even one death or injury is unacceptable. Heads must roll."
He also emphasized the importance of accountability and the necessity to put fan safety first.
“The value of life and the well-being of fans must be paramount. But sadly, it seems no one really cares. The government should have done far more to ensure the event was organised safely. We’ve seen major events across India handled successfully – why not this one?” he stated.