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Regarding the tragic stampede incident near Chinnaswamy Stadium, I request the BJP leaders in the state to first release a list of BJP leaders who resigned during similar incidents in the past before demanding our resignation.

What happened near Chinnaswamy Stadium is an unfortunate accident. As a responsible government, we have taken accountability for the incident. We have suspended senior police officers, including the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, and transferred the Chief of the State Intelligence Department. My political secretary has also been relieved of his duties. Additionally, we have constituted a one-member commission led by retired Justice John Michael Cunha to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Despite taking such decisive actions, the BJP leaders in the state continue to protest. This makes it evident that their motives are political rather than driven by genuine concern for the people. Politicizing tragedies is not new to the BJP. It is ingrained in their DNA to pounce like vultures over every incident of death, accident, or violence. Even if an elephant dies in their courtyard, they have the habit of turning their attention to a fly on their neighbor’s plate. The people of Karnataka have understood this pattern of behavior.

We empathize with the grief and anguish of the families affected by every tragedy. This is why we do not exploit such incidents for political gain. However, given the BJP leaders’ repeated attempts to incite the public by dredging up these incidents, we feel compelled to expose their hypocrisy by bringing certain incidents during their rule to the attention of the people.

In 2002, during the Gujarat riots, approximately 2,000 innocent people from various communities lost their lives. Despite Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s suggestion to take responsibility and resign, then Chief Minister Narendra Modi neither stepped down nor expressed any remorse to date. Those demanding our resignation should first address this.

In April this year, during the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, 26 Indians lost their lives. Our party did not demand the resignation of the Prime Minister over this incident. We merely requested a special parliamentary session to discuss it, which was also denied by the Prime Minister. Even now, the perpetrators of this attack have not been identified. Isn’t this a failure of the central government? Who is accountable for this failure? Is it Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul Gandhi, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

For the past two years, Manipur has been engulfed in violence. Hundreds have lost their lives, yet the BJP Chief Minister, Biren Singh, clung to power for 20 months. He finally resigned only after the Supreme Court intervened, and violence continues to plague the state. Shouldn’t the Union Home Minister take responsibility for this?

In Gujarat, the Morbi bridge collapse claimed 140 lives. In January this year, 30 pilgrims lost their lives during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Were the Chief Ministers of those states not from the BJP? Not only did they not resign, but those governments have also not conducted a proper investigation into these incidents. Given this, what moral authority does the BJP in our state have to demand our resignation?

Our government is answerable to the 7 crore people of Karnataka. Hence, in the stampede case, preliminary action has been taken against those who appeared negligent. A comprehensive and impartial investigation is being conducted under the leadership of a retired judge. Based on the commission’s report, strict action will be taken against the culprits without hesitation.

I urge the BJP leaders in the state to abandon their street theatrics and act in accordance with their conscience.