Letters to The Editor — June 6, 2025
The next Census
The announcement of India's next Census is both significant and overdue. While the shift to a digital Census marks a step forward, the more historic move is the inclusion of caste enumeration for the first time in independent India. This could provide critical data to inform policy decisions. However, the long delay and continued ambiguity about the start date raise concerns about political will and administrative preparedness. Given the scale and implications particularly for delimitation post-2026, it is imperative that the process be transparent, inclusive and methodologically sound. Enumerators must be thoroughly trained to handle sensitive caste data, lest the exercise risks becoming a demographic minefield. A credible Census is foundational to both democracy and development. We cannot afford to treat it as just another bureaucratic formality.
Gopalaswamy J.,
Chennai
Tragedy in Bengaluru
The heartbreaking loss of 11 lives during what should have been a joyous celebration in Bengaluru in connection with RCB's maiden IPL title triumph, is a stark reminder of the critical importance of meticulous planning, empathy and safety in public gatherings. While the spirit of victory unites communities, it must never come at the cost of a life.
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
It is also a a tragic reminder of how dangerously misplaced our collective obsession with celebrity culture has become. Fans spend their hard-earned money on tickets, merchandise, and even firecrackers, all in blind devotion. The leagues have become overhyped and over-commercialised. Corporate houses, gambling platforms, and media giants milk the emotions of millions.
Md Sabir Hussain,
Arrah, Bihar
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India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Stadium left unattended, no police protection": Karnataka BJP on Bengaluru stampede
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 8 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Karnataka mounted an attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, days after 11 people died in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede in Bengaluru. Karnataka Deputy Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad alleged that the duo wanted to 'take selfies' and 'celebrate' the victory with RCB players. 'After this big tragedy in Karnataka, more than 30 common citizens were injured, and 11 people lost their lives. The chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and the deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar, are two culprits... Because they wanted to take selfies and wanted to celebrate the victory with the RCB players, the whole attention of the police and the officers was on them. They were busy giving protection to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, whereas the crowd gathered at the Stadium was left unattended... There was no police protection. All the police officers were busy protecting the chief minister and their family... Siddaramaiah should resign,' Bellad said. Senior BJP leader CT Ravi also called to fix the responsibility. '11 people died--speaking the truth about it, is that politics? Did we go eat dosa after hearing about the deaths? Who is responsible? Did we call everyone to Vidhana Soudha and felicitate them? Does RCB represent the state or Kannadigas? The CM and Deputy CM are responsible. Your political credit war caused this...' Ravi stated. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah has ordered an increase in the compensation announced for the families of those who died in the stampede to Rs 25 lakh each. Earlier, the government had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each. Earlier, top senior officials of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer ES Jairam, tendered their resignations, taking 'moral responsibility' for the stampede ahead of RCB team's felicitation after winning their Indian Premier League (IPL) title by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a tight final on Tuesday. (ANI)
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru stampede: HD Kumaraswamy slams Karnataka government over premature nod for RCB celebrations
Bengaluru: Union minister and JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy Saturday alleged that the Karnataka govt had "pre-planned" the RCB IPL victory celebrations and official permissions were granted hours before the final match had even begun. He said this raised serious concerns over political and bureaucratic accountability on the stampede. "The FIR on the stampede incident says permission was sought for the June 4 victory celebrations at the stadium even before the match started on June 3 (at Ahmedabad). The final started at 7.30pm (on June 3), but an application was submitted at 6pm for next day's celebrations ... did they dream about winning the match? Another application was submitted to the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR) for the celebrations in front of Vidhana Soudha. .. who was behind it? Who put pressure on the police commissioner at 7.30am that day (June 4) for permission?" Kumaraswamy asked. He demanded that chief minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar, and home minister G Parameshwara take moral and administrative responsibility. "What was the need to felicitate the team within 24 hours of the team's victory? Was such a slipshod felicitation needed?" he asked. Echoing the criticism, Union minister and BJP's Bangalore North MP Shobha Karandlaje called the felicitation a misuse of govt space. "The grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha have been reserved for swearing-in or govt ceremonies all these years. You (Congress govt) used it for a private team (RCB)," she said. Holding the CM and DCM directly responsible, she said: "Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have blood on their hands. They are trying to wash the blood and wipe it on police officers. Where are Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, who often come to the state for everything, hiding?" CMO counters, says permission was given only for Soudha venue The chief minister's office (CMO) Saturday said official permission for RCB victory celebrations was granted only for the Vidhana Soudha venue on June 4 and not before the IPL final. Responding to Kumaraswamy's allegations that the govt had "pre-planned" the event even before RCB's final match on June 3, the CMO said the request letter was received by the undersecretary, DPAR (executive). "Permission for celebrations was formally accorded only for the Vidhana Soudha venue and not for the cricket stadium, after getting the report from Vidhana Soudha DCP on June 4." the CMO said.
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
Want to stay here too: Father cries over grave of son killed in Bengaluru stampede
New updates following the Bengaluru stampede in which 11 people were killed have been making the headlines lately. And now, a video from Karnataka's Hassan district that shows a father mourning the loss of his 21-year-old son is going Lakshman, father of Bhumik Lakshman - one of the 11 victims who died in the stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium - is seen in the video crying inconsolably and refusing to leave his son's grave. "I don't want to go anywhere else now. I want to stay here too," he sobs, lying flat on the Bhumik, a 21-year-old from Hassan, was amongst nearly 50 others injured during the crowd surge on Wednesday at an event held to felicitate IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The celebratory function, organised outside the Vidhana Soudha, turned tragic after the crowd swelled uncontrollably. Among the deceased were three teenagers and several youths aged between 20 and 35."The land I had bought for him is where his memorial has been built," Mr Lakshman says, surrounded by villagers as two men gently try to lift him to his feet. 'What happened to my son should not happen to anyone. No father should have to face what I am facing.'The video, widely shared on social media, has sparked outrage, with the Karnataka BJP accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of ignoring basic crowd management in favour of political optics. advertisement A tweet from the party's official handle reads, "Murderous CM @siddaramaiah sir, murderous DCM @DKShivakumar sir, if you had made up your mind, you could have taken a photo with your children and grandchildren in a luxurious hotel with a cup. But your insistence on taking a photo on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha has made 11 families wash their hands in tears every day. Can you give this father his son back, sitting in front of his son's grave and crying?!"The state government has come under increasing pressure since the incident. Four people have been arrested in connection with the stampede, and five senior police officials - including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner - have been suspended. On Friday, the Karnataka government sacked CM Siddaramaiah's political secretary, K Govindaraj, and removed the chief of the state intelligence department.
