In the aftermath of the stampede at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) felicitation event that claimed 11 lives, the political temperature in Karnataka has risen sharply with BJP accusing Congress-led government of mismanagement and VIP privilege. The spotlight has turned to Zaid Khan, son of Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, whose presence on stage during the ceremony has drawn sharp criticism.
The BJP has alleged that ministers’ family members, including Zaid, were allowed unrestricted access to the dais, while thousands of fans were left stranded outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, as per a report on India Today.
Images from the event, which show Zaid Khan standing close to cricket icon Virat Kohli and other RCB players, have only intensified the backlash. Zaid, who is also an actor in the Kannada film industry, was seen in a white shirt behind the team—prompting public anger over what many are calling a clear example of political entitlement at a public function.
RCB Felicitation Event Invite
The RCB’s initial invitation to fans via social media, which was later deleted following a warning from Bengaluru Traffic Police, has also come under scrutiny. Police had cited potential traffic and crowd control issues and had not granted formal permission for a victory parade.
Despite this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly gave a last-minute go-ahead for celebrations, though the planned parade was eventually shelved due to overcrowding and rain.