Guntur Stampede: Whom to Blame?

The death of three women in the stampede at the freebie distribution of Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu’s public meeting in Guntur raked up a discussion on who should be blamed for the tragedy. This is the second such incident in the last 10 days that occurred during the events held by the TDP. Earlier, as many as eight people died after the cement slab on a drainage canal caved in when people thronged to hear to Naidu at his roadshow in Kandukur, Nellore district.

Firstly, the TDP cadre should have taken all the precautions to avoid the stampede. When freebies, specially goods, are being distributed they should know how people would want to snatch them. The TDP supremo claims that he has a political career spanning four decades and he should have already known how the people in the state would react to a sops and freebies, pointed out political observers.

Given the uncontrollable situation that led to deaths in Kandukur, Naidu should have asked his party men to be extra cautious as there were plans to distribute Chandranna Sankranti Kanuka kits free, they felt.

Police should also have discharged their duties diligently and tried to avoid the stampede. In fact, the police should have been more careful while maintaining the law and order at the public meeting as they have already faced a stampede-like situation at Naidu’s roadshow.

The government authorities should also have asked the police department to deploy more police to ensure law and order at the public meeting. It is true that the stampede occurred after Naidu left the venue but the police should know that they are responsible towards the public. The police should know that their duty continues even after Naidu leaving the place, felt political analysts.

Political parties and the government departments should know that they are meant to serve the people, they added.