"Players Had Commitments": Siddaramaiah Aide On Short Notice For RCB Event
The size of the crowd that had gathered for the celebrations of RCB's victory in the IPL was unexpected and "nobody could have visualised it", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed has said, after at least 11 people died in a stampede on Wednesday.
"Time was also very short, it was not announced. The match was yesterday and today, in a very short time, whatever best possible arrangements could be made, were made," he said.
When NDTV asked if the celebration should have been held later, he said, "The situation was such... Many players had commitments and insisted it should be done today... RCB is a Bengaluru team, they just wanted to come and participate."
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the Indian Premier League on Tuesday - marking a major milestone for Virat Kohli and the team's fans, who waited 18 years for the day - and huge crowds gathered at the Vidhana Soudha - the state legislature - and the Chinnaswamy Stadium to greet the team on Wednesday afternoon.
The players met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Vidhana Soudha and were felicitated there, after which they went to the stadium, took victory laps and celebrated with the trophy as adoring fans looked on.
Stampedes occurred both outside the Vidhana Soudha, where two people died, and the stadium, where another nine were killed.
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