On Tuesday (June 17), Siddaramaiah took to X (formerly Twitter) to attack the opposition party, asserting that they should first provide a list of BJP leaders who resigned after tragedies during their tenure.
“Prior to demanding my resignation over the Chinnaswamy Stadium incident, I encourage Karnataka BJP leaders to release a list of their leaders who stepped down when comparable tragedies transpired under their governance,” he posted on X.
He acknowledged the Chinnaswamy incident as “unfortunate” and emphasized that his government is taking full accountability. “Top police officers have been suspended, the head of state intelligence has been transferred, and my Political Secretary has been relieved of their duties,” he noted, adding that a one-man commission led by retired Justice John Michael Cunha has been established for a thorough investigation.
Before @BJP4Karnataka leaders demand my resignation over the Chinnaswamy Stadium incident, I urge them to first release a list of BJP leaders who resigned when similar tragedies occurred under their rule.#ChinnaswamyStampede
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 17, 2025
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of making the protests “more about politics than people,” alleging that the party politicizes death. “Whether it’s an accident, murder, or assault, their initial response is to blame others. The people of Karnataka can see through this charade. We genuinely understand the pain of families affected by tragedies, which is why we never politicize such events. The BJP, conversely, seeks to politicize them to incite unrest.”
BJP stages protests across Karnataka
BJP has organized statewide protests across Karnataka, insisting on Siddaramaiah’s resignation following the June 4 stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities and left over 50 injured.
The party demands the immediate resignation of Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and Home Minister G Parameshwara. Prominent leaders such as BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chaluvadi Narayanaswamy were at the forefront of these demonstrations, according to PTI.
“While RCB celebrations were happening across the state and country on June 4, there was a rivalry between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in Bengaluru. The Deputy Chief Minister, eager for media attention through the RCB victory celebration, rushed to the airport to welcome the cricketers and showcased the cup in the stadium, portraying himself as a victor,” Vijayendra posted on X.
Read more: Karnataka HC orders interim release of RCB official and three others in Bengaluru stampede case
Siddaramaiah reminds BJP of its history
“Let’s remind the BJP of history: In 2002, approximately 2000 innocent lives were lost in the Gujarat riots. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee requested CM Modi to resign, yet he did not, nor did he express remorse. BJP, address this before asking for resignations,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
He further remarked that 26 lives were lost in the Pahalgam terror attack, and the culprits remain unidentified. “Did we demand PM Modi’s resignation? No. We sought a special Parliament session, which was denied. To date, not a single perpetrator has been identified. Who should resign for this failure? Pandit Nehru? Rahul Gandhi?” he added.
“For two years, Manipur was in turmoil. Hundreds died. Yet CM Biren Singh held onto power for 20 months, only stepping down after SC intervention. Why was there no outrage from the BJP then? Where was their moral compass?” Siddaramaiah questioned.
“In Gujarat’s Morbi, a bridge collapsed, killing 140 people. In January, 30 pilgrims lost their lives at Mahakumbh. BJP CMs did not resign, nor were proper investigations conducted. What moral authority does the BJP have to challenge us?” he stated, emphasizing that his government is accountable to the 7 crore residents of Karnataka.
“We have already taken action against those prima facie negligent in the stampede. The judicial commission’s report will guide our next steps, and we will not hesitate to implement stringent measures,” he concluded.
Read more: Karnataka ED searches: Will not support any violation of law, says CM Siddaramaiah
