MLC C.T. Ravi speaking to reporters at the district BJP office in Mangaluru on June 7, 2025.
| Photo Credit: H.S. Manjunath

MANGAURU

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar should be held responsible for the fiasco at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, which resulted in the death of 11 persons on June 4, and not the police personnel who worked hard to save the lives of spectators gathered at the stadium, said BJP MLC C.T. Ravi in Mangaluru on June 7.

Criticising Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar, Mr. Ravi told reporters that it was strange that the government allowed the felicitation of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, an IPL franchise, in the premises of Vidhana Soudha. Neither is government is the sponsor of the team, nor is any team member from Karnataka.

Mr. Siddaramaiah was seen at the function held at the Vidhana Soudha while Mr. Shivakumar was at the function held at the stadium. “Was the Police Commissioner (B. Dayanand) the organiser of the two events? Can officials organise such an event to entertain family members of the CM and Deputy CM?”

Mr. Shivakumar was seen holding the IPL trophy in the stadium while police struggled to carry injured fans on their shoulders in a bid to save their lives. “It is strange that they (police) were held responsible, but not the CM or Deputy CM,” the MLC said.

On the reports that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was eating dosa in a hotel when the stampede happened at the stadium, Mr. Ravi said, “If true, then it shows the insensitivity of the Chief Minister to the tragedy.”

BJP to look into root cause of communal unrest in coastal Karnataka

Mr. Ravi said a BJP delegation headed by State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra will visit Mangaluru on June 9 to work out ways to restore peace in the region following mob lynching and two murders.

A Congress delegation led by MP Syed Nasir Hussain has already visited the city for the purpose.

Mr. Ravi claimed that the root cause for the communal tension in the region was cattle theft, illegal cow slaughter and love jihad. “The government should curb cattle theft and cow slaughter. Those financing love jihad should be booked. Effective action should be taken against persons involved in illegal sand extraction, sale of cannabis, and betting. If root cause of communal trouble is addressed, it will bring in peace,” he said.

There should be serious deliberation on removing references in religious text that allow killing of persons from other communities, Mr. Ravi said.