Two similar tragedies. Two different states. Two vastly different responses. One common denominator — the Congress party.
In Telangana, Telugu superstar Allu Arjun paid a surprise visit to a cinema hall screening his blockbuster Pushpa 2. The massive crowd surged uncontrollably. But instead of taking responsibility for crowd control failure, the state police swooped in — not to manage the chaos, but to arrest the actor himself. Yes, Allu Arjun — who neither organised the event nor oversaw law and order — was made the scapegoat for public enthusiasm and official negligence.
Fast forward to Karnataka. The Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hastily organised a state-sponsored felicitation ceremony at Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title after 18 long years. Within hours of the final match, the event was announced, coordinated, and deployed — not by private stakeholders or the cricket board alone, as claimed, but with full government involvement. The toll? Eleven dead, including a 12-year-old girl. At least 37 injured.
Lakhs gathered. Chaos ensued. Poor planning, no ticketed entry, no crowd control, no communication. The celebration descended into a stampede-like situation. Women and children were trampled. Emergency services were overwhelmed. Lives were endangered.
And yet, not one minister was held accountable. Not one organiser was detained. No official lost their job. No inquiry. Just silence.
The CM held a press conference to offer condolences and announce ex gratia payments — but didn’t express a word of regret or responsibility. His deputy, DK Shivakumar, went further — shamelessly praised the police for not using batons, as if that were a badge of honour, not an admission of chaos. He promised to visit the injured in the hospital. As if that fixes anything.
So, why this double standard? Why this duplicity?
When a film star tries to connect with fans, he’s criminalised. But when the state itself holds a high-stakes, high-decibel event without basic planning and puts thousands at risk, the blame is deflected, and everyone walks free.
Let’s be blunt. The Allu Arjun incident wasn’t a political event. It wasn’t state-organised. It was spontaneous. The crowd was there for the movie. Yes, his presence added to the frenzy — but the state should have anticipated and managed the situation, especially considering the star’s mass appeal.
The RCB felicitation, on the other hand, was 100% a state affair. It was conceptualised, announced, and orchestrated by the Karnataka government. This wasn’t a flash mob. It was a political show, executed for maximum visibility and mileage. There was no crowd control blueprint. No advance coordination. No ticketing. No sanity. Just a mad rush to grab the spotlight.
RCB’s IPL win was a sporting milestone. The Congress tried to convert it into a political trophy. And in doing so, they created a disaster.
Unlike Allu Arjun, the cricketers were state guests. They were officially invited and provided security. So, who takes the fall for the chaos?
This isn’t about a movie star versus a cricket team. It’s about accountability. About how two Congress-ruled states applied vastly different standards — harsh on individuals, forgiving of their own.
Where are the voices of outrage now? The civil liberties activists? The freedom-of-expression warriors who erupt in indignation when artists are hounded in other states? Where are the Twitter intellectuals when fans get injured in a government-sponsored mess?
Their silence now isn’t just convenient — it’s complicit.
The Congress must answer:
- Is the law a tool of justice, or just a stick to beat down individuals who don’t serve their political purpose?
- Are safety norms optional when it’s the state organising the event?
- Is accountability only for others, never for themselves?
If Congress wants to claim the moral high ground, it must first confront its moral vacuum. Telangana criminalised an individual to mask incompetence. Karnataka endangered lives for political PR. Neither has apologised. Neither has it introspected.
Until then, the party can stop pretending to stand for justice. Its hypocrisy is laid bare — in blood, in bruises, and in its deafening silence.
