"Apprehended police officers are just a scapegoat": BJP leader Prabhu Bhamla Chavan on Bengaluru stampede tragedy

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP leader Prabhu Bhamla Chavan on Sunday hit out at the Karnataka government over the stampede tragedy outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives.
Chavan held Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and state Home Minister G Parameshwara directly responsible for the tragedy.
"The main culprits are the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and state Home Minister. All three should resign. This is the demand of the whole population of Karnataka... 11 people died because of the Chief Minister.", Chavan told ANI.
Chavan also alleged that the officers apprehended in connection with the incident are being used as scapegoats. "The apprehended Police officers are just a scapegoat," he claimed. "We say don't give any compensation at all. But, our party demands that the CM should resign.", Chavan stated.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a protest on Sunday at the steps of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Vidhana Soudha, condemning the state Congress government over the deadly stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
Karnataka Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashok has strongly criticised the Siddaramaiah-led government over the stampede tragedy outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives.
LoP Ashok questioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and demanded the resignation of the CM and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
"Siddaramaiah is in trouble. His mind is not functioning right... Theirs is not a government but a Tughlaq Durbar. The Karnataka government organised this event during which people lost their lives. They are the culprits... We demand the resignation of the CM and Dy CM..." Ashok told ANI on Sunday.
LoP also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for each person who died in the incident, "We are demanding at least Rs 1 crore for each person who died."
Earlier, 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 both leaders prioritised "taking selfies" and "celebrating" with the RCB players over managing the crowd.
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. The government had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.
The 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)