Jun 05, 2025 11:17 AM IST

While calling the incident “unfortunate”, Joshi demanded the conduct of a judicial inquiry on the matter.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi launched a scathing assault on the ruling Congress authorities in Karnataka, alleging that the political management and bureaucrats within the state “were busy taking selfies” when the incident passed off. He additional alleged that there had been a “big lapse” on the a part of the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka authorities.

Joshi additionally alleged that the Karnataka police had been compelled to grant permission for the celebration of the victory attributable to political stress.(PTI)

“…The Chief Minister, Deputy CM, ministers were all trying to take selfies with their family members, more police were engaged at the Vidhana Soudha,” Pralhad Joshi informed reporters, including that the state authorities was now pointing fingers on the Karnataka State Cricket Board.

A day after the Royal Challengers Bangalore lifted the Indian Premier League or IPL 2025 trophy, a large crowd turned up on Wednesday close to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Karnataka’s capital to have fun the victory. However, chaos broke out after authorities closed the gates of the stadium, leading to a stampede which led to the deaths of 11 individuals and left over 30 others injured. 

While calling the incident “unfortunate”, Joshi demanded the conduct of a judicial inquiry on the matter. 

‘Police forced to grant permission due to political pressure’

Joshi additionally alleged that the Karnataka police had been compelled to grant permission for the celebration of the victory attributable to political stress.

“…Because of the political stress from the federal government, they (police) had been compelled to accord the permission, which may be very unlucky…,” Joshi informed ANI.

He stated that there had been “complete negligence” on the a part of the state authorities, holding them answerable for the incident. “More than anyone else, the government is responsible; both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister must be held accountable,” Joshi stated.

The union minister stated that the police had flagged their considerations beforehand, including that they had been dismissed. “The police were reportedly not in favour of the celebrations and had raised concerns, including objections to the use of an open vehicle for the celebrations. But their concerns were dismissed,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Joshi additional alleged that the authorities had insisted and “pushed forward” with the celebrations, including that they had been “hoping to politically capitalise on RCB’s victory”. 

Earlier in a publish on X, Joshi had blamed “poor planning” and “crowd mismanagement” as the explanations for the tragedy. “It’s heartbreaking to see such loss due to poor planning and crowd mismanagement. The state authorities in Karnataka has clearly failed in its duty. Celebrations is one factor, however the State authorities with out correct planning, with out taking emergency companies into confidence, took this pressing and unlucky determination. This may have been averted,” he wrote within the publish.