Three days after Bengaluru stampede, cricket association secretary & treasurer step down on moral grounds
Bengaluru: Days after the horrific stampede outside the city's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in which 11 people were killed and 75 injured, the secretary and treasurer of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) stepped down, taking moral responsibility for the disaster.
Secretary A Shankar and treasurer AE Jairam tendered their resignations late Friday to association president Raghuram Bhat. On Saturday, Shankar and Jairam issued a joint press statement confirming their decision.
"Due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days, though our role was very limited, we are taking moral responsibility. We have submitted our resignations from our respective posts as secretary and treasurer of KSCA," the statement read.
At the emergency managing committee meeting on Saturday, which a majority of members opted to attend virtually, the duo's resignation was accepted.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Bhat, a former India spinner, explained: "The committee acknowledged the contribution of the secretary and treasurer and accepted their resignation."
Asked if the rest of the office-bearers would also resign, Bhat said: "The committee will not be dissolved as of now.
We are offering our full support to the investigating authorities."
While KSCA polls are scheduled for Oct, the association has to convene an SGM within 45 days and elect a secretary and treasurer for the rest of the term. Until such time, the managing committee will run the show.
Shankar and Jairam, both well-known chartered accountants, held the honorary positions for the past two and a half years. Their resignations come amid growing public anger and mounting pressure from various quarters demanding accountability from the cricketing body over the stampede.
An FIR was filed against the two, along with some other KSCA officials, following Wednesday's sordid incident that prompted chief minister Siddaramaiah to order the arrest of KSCA officials responsible for the incident.
With police on the hunt, Shankar and Jairam approached Karnataka high court on Friday, seeking anticipatory bail. The petition, which also named KSCA president Bhat, argued that the association and its office-bearers were not directly liable for what had happened.
While the court granted interim protection from arrest, the resignations of Shankar and Jairam are being seen as a symbolic acceptance of moral responsibility.
Will the international calendar hold?
The prevailing circumstances have put a question mark on the preparedness of the state association for a hectic international calendar ahead, during which, Bengaluru is set to host the ICC Women's 50-over World Cup, with the opening match featuring India to be held in the city on Sept 30, apart from one semifinal (on Oct 30).
The final on Nov 2 is scheduled to be held in either Bengaluru or Colombo (if Pakistan qualify).
KSCA is also scheduled to host a three-match one-day series between India A and South Africa A from Nov 13-19.
The crowd surge inside and the stampede outside on Wednesday left the stadium's exteriors and a section of the stands severely damaged, and it will be a race against time for the venue to be put back in shape.
Govt increases compensation
The state govt has increased the compensation from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for the families of those killed in the stampede.
The govt also said it was committed to providing free treatment to those injured.
The opposition parties and the public had criticised the govt for initially announcing a Rs 10 lakh compensation, alleging that the state govt paid Rs 25 lakh to the kin of a man who was killed in Kerala after being attacked by a Karnataka elephant.
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