Bengaluru, 8 June 

Karnataka BJP legislators and Parliamentarians protested in front in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives.

The BJP leaders called for legal action against the two senior Congress leaders, holding them directly responsible for the tragedy.

The protest was led by the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaseamy.

Carrying placards and shouting slogans, the protesters accused the government of negligence that led to the deaths.

Slogans termed the CM and Deputy CM as “murderers”.

The BJP leaders are also planning to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot soon, seeking his intervention and calling for the dismissal of the government

Speaking during the protest, Ashoka demanded justice for the deceased, calling Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar “Real Culprits of Bengaluru (RCB)”.

Ashoka added that they cannot rule the State atop the bodies of 11 people. “You have no moral right, you have lost it. You are accused in the eyes of law”.

Speaking at a press conference later, he said that if Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were not engaged in a power struggle, students would not have lost their lives. The police had informed them of the first death by noon. Eight children had already died when the event began, yet the program continued, he accused.

On 4 June, Vidhana Soudha police wrote to the Chief Secretary, clearly stating that the event was organised in haste, and due to a staff shortage, security arrangements would be compromised. They had also recommended prohibiting the event, Ashoka recalled.

“The government disregarded all these instructions,” Ashok hit out. 

“If the government is not guilty, it should provide Rs 1 crore as compensation. We will all donate one month’s salary to the victims’ families,” he declared. -

Vijay Mallya earlier promoted and launched the team RCB, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but the CM and Deputy CM are the new RCB – Real Culprits of Bengaluru.

R Ashoka, Leader of Opposition