Calls grow for Karnataka cricket association brass to shoulder blame, step down
Bengaluru: Barely 48 hours after the horrific stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL celebration, it was business as usual in the central business district of the city Friday as horns blared, and tyres screeched.
The stadium, though, was eerily quiet.
Normally a beehive of activity, the mood was understandably somber with Karnataka State Cricket Association brass still grappling with the shock and fallout of the unprecedented tragedy.
Police officers had landed on doorsteps of several KSCA officials and staff in the wee hours but office-bearers and managing committee members went incommunicado until the high court granted them relief from arrest.
Besides staying away from their homes, they were also inaccessible by phone. As a result, police were only able to question a few low-rung staff.
Although no official holiday was declared for staff, attendance was thin and even those who came refused to speak about the chaos that unfolded on Wednesday.
For the second consecutive day, the sports centre — which houses sports, fitness facilities and restaurants — remained shut.
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However, cricketing activity remained unaffected with two KSCA U-16 league matches being conducted at other venues in the city.
The mood noticeably changed in the evening — after the high court ruling — with the KSCA management informing members that it would be business as usual from Saturday.
Moral responsibility
But KSCA brass continued to face scrutiny with life members and former cricketers calling for office-bearers to step down on moral grounds.
Incidentally, the term of the current committee will end in a few months and with elections around the corner, the situation is taking a fresh turn.
In their plea in court, KSCA's committee, stated: "There is no wrong that can be attributed to the committee or its office-bearers as they stand aloof of any liabilities against the entire unfortunate incident…" They also stated that the stadium is managed by RCB since the IPL franchise had rented the premises.
Many members, though, believe these are feeble excuses and that KSCA brass must shoulder the blame.
"They cannot shy away from the fact that 11 people died on the stadium premises," said a former cricketer. "Even if it was an RCB event, KSCA office-bearers were present at both Vidhana Soudha and the event hosted at the stadium. They must take moral responsibility for the incident, step down and an administrator should be appointed until elections are held."
A life member pointed out, "The deputy chief minister has stated on record that he left Vidhana Soudha with KSCA office-bearers on hearing about the stampede. Yet, the president and secretary of KSCA were on the podium celebrating with the RCB team. It's shocking."
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