‘Specialists in doing politics over dead bodies’: DK Shivakumar slams BJP for ‘politicising’ Chinnaswamy stampede

BENGALURU:Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday launched a sharp critique against the BJP, accusing them of using the recent Chinnaswamy stadium stampede for political mileage.

Shivakumar alleged that the BJP has a pattern of exploiting tragedies.

“They are specialists in doing politics over dead bodies. They have been doing this brand of politics for a long time,” he said.

Responding to a reporter’s question about BJP protests demanding accountability from the Chief Minister and himself, he said, “Do we need to carry the BJP on our shoulders for taking a high ground and criticising the government on the stampede? Who is responsible for the stampedes in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and many railway stations across the country? More than hundred people died in a stampede at a UP temple alone. I went to visit plane crash site in Ahmedabad, did I say a word about the Union government?”

Pointing out that Karnataka government has already acted he said, “The government has already taken action against many people in this regard. We have also formed a one-man commission to conduct investigation.”

He further claimed that Congress has never politicised similar incidents elsewhere.

“There have been hundreds of such incidents in the country, but the Congress party has never politicised them. They are busy accusing us as they are losing their political base. It is nothing but a desperate attempt to prove their existence. The people are not with them,” he said.

The Deputy CM also mentioned that Congress will return to power in Karnataka in 2028.

He noted, “It is natural that powerful people have a lot of enemies. The lesser the strength, the lesser the enemies. There won’t obviously be any enemies if one doesn’t have any power. If the media is with us, we will take oath once again in 2028.”

On the High Court’s stay on re-tendering for Bengaluru’s waste disposal, Shivakumar vowed to challenge the order.

“How will it work if we don’t clean the city? I will study the judgement. There were 89 tenders earlier and they have all ganged up. It is a mafia. They think they can refuge under the Court’s order; we will persuade the Court about this,” he said.

He accused vested interests of obstructing progress through legal tactics.

“Some people are engaged in obstructing works by getting stays through PILs. This won’t work with us. We will throw away the garbage mafia and will give opportunities to new comers,” he added, signaling his intent to overhaul the city’s waste management system. (ANI)