Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ignited a political firestorm after he remarked on the recent stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives. Responding to demands for accountability, he questioned whether ministers resigned during similar incidents like the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. The comment, seen as an attempt to sidestep political responsibility, was met with swift backlash from opposition leaders who accused the CM of trivializing the tragedy.

Defending the state’s role, Siddaramaiah clarified that the event was organized solely by the Karnataka State Cricket Association and that the government’s involvement was limited to providing police security. He announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh for each of the deceased's families and ordered a magisterial probe with findings expected in 15 days. However, critics argued that this response was insufficient and accused the state of failing in crowd management and public safety enforcement.

The opposition BJP, led by senior leader Pralhad Joshi, condemned Siddaramaiah’s statement as “insensitive” and “unconstitutional.” They demanded a judicial inquiry and called for the resignation of Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and the Home Minister. The incident has stirred wider concerns around administrative oversight and public accountability, especially in the context of high-attendance public events. While the state government maintains that compensation and investigation protocols have been set in motion, the debate has widened to include serious questions about disaster preparedness and governance ethics in Karnataka.