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BJP Kerala chief Chandrasekhar rebuffs criticism over his presence at Vizhinjam event

BJP Kerala chief Chandrasekhar rebuffs criticism over his presence at Vizhinjam event

Time of India03-05-2025

Kottayam: Responding to criticisms over his presence on the dais during the event commissioning the Vizhinjam port on Friday, BJP state unit president
Rajeev Chandrasekhar
said that he merely joined the party workers who raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and that minister Muhammed Riyas had issues witnessing all this.
Addressing 'Vikasana Keralam', a programme organised by the BJP unit of Alappuzha East on Saturday, Chandrasekhar stated that the Vizhinjam project is for the country. He mentioned that he arrived early for the programme and sat on the dais, and when the BJP workers raised the slogans, he joined them. He said that the "son-in-law" of the "Communist dynasty" has issue with this and that he should consult a doctor. Chandrasekhar added that some people had issues with him arriving early on the dais and that he came early to meet the party workers.
Chandrasekhar credited Modi for making
Vizhinjam International Seaport
a reality. Regarding the alleged trolling targeted at him, Chandrasekhar said, "Let them troll as much as they want."
He declared that the BJP-NDA train has started and will stop only after the state achieves development. In the meantime, anyone can board the train, including the son-in-law (Riyas) if he wishes, Chandrasekhar added.
He attacked the state govt over
development in Kerala
and questioned for whom the state govt is celebrating its anniversary. ASHAs (accredited social health activists) are not celebrating, nor are the KSRTC employees, fishermen, or poor labourers. "Then who is celebrating? Is it the son-in-law and the daughter who are celebrating?" he asked.
Chandrasekhar concluded by asserting that only the BJP can bring changes in the state.

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Bengaluru stampede: BCCI ducks blame, CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela and blames RCB fans, BJP targets Karnataka govt
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Bengaluru stampede: BCCI ducks blame, CM Siddaramaiah cites Kumbh Mela and blames RCB fans, BJP targets Karnataka govt

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Did I or the Karnataka government criticise?' Karnataka CM was talking about the recent stampede at Maha Kumbh mela in BJP-ruled state of Uttar Pradesh that claimed the lives at least 30 people. Also read | Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka high court takes suo motu cognisance, to hear matter today Explaining what led to the stampede at Chinaswamy stadium, he said, 'The match happened last evening (Tuesday), and today (Wednesday) this event was organised by the cricket association. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came.' 'There were over 1.5 lakh people at the gates, banging and eventually breaking through in some places. The attempt to enter the stadium resulted in the stampede.' He added, 'There are small gates. The people entered through the gates. They have also broken the gates, so a stampede has taken place. Prima facie, it looks like that. I am not saying that nothing has happened. 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The tragedy unfolded rapidly on Wednesday afternoon as thousands of RCB fans thronged the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the team's IPL victory celebration.

Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar breaks down, says 'It hurts to see little children. I have seen their pain'; watch
Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar breaks down, says 'It hurts to see little children. I have seen their pain'; watch

Time of India

time30 minutes ago

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Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar breaks down, says 'It hurts to see little children. I have seen their pain'; watch

NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar in front of the media on Thursday, speaking for the first time after a stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead and over 70 injured during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. The senior Congress leader, visibly emotional, said the tragedy had left him deeply shaken. "We must learn an administrative lesson, let the opposition do politics on dead bodies. I will list how many dead bodies they have done politics on. But it hurts to see the little children. I have seen their pain," he told news agency ANI. Shivakumar had apologised on Wednesday, shortly after the tragedy, acknowledging that the government had underestimated the size of the crowd. "This should not have happened and we never expected such a big crowd. The stadium's capacity is 35,000, but more than 3 lakh people were there. Gates (of the stadium) have been broken. We apologise for this incident. We want to know the facts and give a clear message," he said. He accused the opposition BJP of politicising the event, adding: "BJP is doing politics. We are very sorry for the incident. We will work out a better solution in the future." The Karnataka government has postponed all official events scheduled for Friday, barring the cabinet meeting, as a mark of respect. "Tomorrow, except the cabinet meeting, all programmes have been postponed. No celebrations, including the World Environment Day." Shivakumar added. Compensation announced Chief minister Siddaramaiah, while addressing a separate press conference, announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those killed and free medical care for the injured. "A major tragedy occurred during the victory celebrations. It happened near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The government will provide free treatment to the injured," he said. "11 died and 33 were injured in the stampede. This tragedy should not have happened. The government expresses deep sorrow over this incident," he added. The chief minister also confirmed that a magisterial inquiry had been ordered into the incident, with a report expected in 15 days. "I don't want to defend this incident. Our government will not do politics on this. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry and given 15 days' time. People even broke the gates of the stadium. There was a stampede. No one expected such a huge crowd. The stadium has a capacity of only 35,000 people, but 2-3 lakh people came," Siddaramaiah said.

We are very sorry about the incident, says DK Shivakumar on Bengaluru stampede
We are very sorry about the incident, says DK Shivakumar on Bengaluru stampede

India Today

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We are very sorry about the incident, says DK Shivakumar on Bengaluru stampede

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar apologised for the stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru which claimed the lives of eleven people, saying, 'No, I don't want to explain. But we are very sorry about the incident. We all will work out for a better solution in future.'The stampede broke out on Wednesday during the event to felicitate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team after their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title Deputy Chief Minister further accused the BJP of politicising the tragedy. 'They're doing politics. They're doing politics on the deathbed. They only said that. They wanted the procession. This has happened without the procession. If the procession happened, what would have been the situation? Everyone would have blocked the roads and gone on their vehicles. I don't want to comment much.' Shivakumar acknowledged that the scale of the crowd far exceeded expectations. 'This should not have happened. We never expected such a big crowd. No one thought this would happen. We thought some 30,000 to 40,000 would appear... Someone wanted to declare it a holiday. We didn't want to do it, we didn't do it. The crowd was divided between Vidhana Soudha and the stadium, which has a 35,000 capacity. But over 3 lakh were there. And on the streets from the airport, I think there was a massive crowd. It was unbelievable.'advertisementDescribing the chaotic scene at the stadium, he said, 'This incident has happened, at the stadium, where the doors have been broken, it's unfortunate — the gates have been broken. We fully apologise for this. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team has also come out with a statement on this, but still we wanted to know the facts and give a clear message. We will do it.' IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru

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