In the aftermath of the tragic stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebration, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, R. Ashok, visited the home of Bhumik, a young engineering student who lost his life in the incident. Bhumik, a resident of Belur Taluk in Hassan district, was among those caught in the chaos outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
R. Ashok, along with Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, met the grieving family to express condolences and extend support. During the visit, Ashok assured Bhumik’s father, D.T. Lakshman, that their fight for justice will not be ignored. “Though nothing can bring back a life lost, the truth must come out. Justice must prevail,” he said.
Speaking to the media after meeting the family, Ashok criticised the state government’s handling of the event. “The family has the strength to employ 30 workers on their farm, but the emotional loss of their only son is something no parent should bear,” he said. He added that the tragedy could have been avoided if the RCB event had been postponed by just a few days. “Instead of bringing joy, the celebration brought sorrow. The state must take responsibility,” he stated.
He went on to accuse the ruling Congress party of attempting to distract from the issue. “While the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are in Delhi, the public is left confused. First, they said the stampede happened in the stadium, then near Vidhana Soudha. They talk about cabinet expansion, but these are diversion tactics. If they are confident they did nothing wrong, hand over the case to the CBI,” he demanded.
Bhumik’s father, overwhelmed with grief, shared his anguish over the preventable loss. “I have spent the last few days near my son’s grave. No parent should face this. The police had warned about crowd risks, yet the event was held. Why didn’t the government act?” he asked. Though financial compensation was announced, Lakshman questioned if any amount could ever compensate for a life lost.
He acknowledged the timely support extended by R. Ashok and others, emphasizing that it came from a place of compassion, not political interest.
On the legal front, the Karnataka High Court today heard a petition filed by RCB’s Marketing and Revenue Head, Nikhil Sosale. Sosale sought to challenge his arrest in connection with the stampede. However, the court denied interim relief and scheduled a hearing with the state’s Advocate General for Wednesday.
The tragedy has sparked sharp political debate and public outcry, with many calling for accountability from both event organizers and the state machinery.
