‘Playing Politics Over Dead Bodies’: DK Shivakumar Breaks Down Over Bengaluru Stampede

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar broke down in front of the media on Thursday as he addressed the public for the first time following the tragic stampede near M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL victory celebrations.

Visibly shaken and emotional, Shivakumar admitted that the situation spiraled beyond control. He said that the Police Commissioner instructed him to end the event in 10 minutes and informed him that 1-2 lives were lost in the stampede. 

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar breaks down as he comes out to address the media for the first time after the #BengaluruStampede. pic.twitter.com/1GDMZOBAm4

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2025

ALSO READ: Stampedes: From Chennai To Bengaluru — Tragedies That Highlight South India’s Recurring Crowd Control Failures

‘Playing Politics On Dead Bodies’: DK Shivakumar

He accused BJP and JD(S) of playing politics. Shivakumar told ANI, “I don’t want to play dirty politics. BJP and JDS always play politics on dead bodies; that is their political agenda. But they should see what they have done, we are deeply hurt, the image of Karnataka, Bangalore, we take it, we are not blaming others, though it has happened very unexpectedly.”