Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly opposed idea of road shows after celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bengaluru that eventually resulted in a stampede and claimed 11 lives. Gambhir asserted that the lives of people is far more important and that responsibility is a must in such situations.
According to the official release by the franchise, the bus parade was to take place at 5:00 PM. Instead, the celebrations turned to a tragic incident as the stampede claimed 11 lives and at least 33 were injured. Many were admitted to nearby hospitals as the organisers of the event have come under the scanner. According to the latest development, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Entertainment.
Speaking during the press conference ahead of India's departure to England, the former Indian opener claimed:
"I was never a believer in these road shows. Even when I was playing, we won the 2007 T20 WC I wasnโt keen we have a road show. The lives of people is far more important. What happened in Bengaluru was very tragic. I am always a believer of not having road shows. We shouldnโt have done that (road show). You can not lose 11 people. We should have been more responsible."
"We are responsible citizens of this country" - Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir opined that if the authorities were not prepared to handle the crowd of such magnitude, the event shouldn't have taken place. He stated, as quoted by The Indian Express:
"I am no one to hold anyone responsible. Important thing is, I never believed in road shows. Winning and celebrations are important but what is more important is someone's life. If we are not prepared to handle that kind of crowd then might as well not having these road shows. We are responsible citizens of this country and we need to show that in all of our actions."
