Bengaluru/IBNS, June 5 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has referred to the Kumbh Mela stampede in his reaction to the Bengaluru stampede that has claimed 11 lives while celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Indian Premier League (IPL) victory was underway at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city.

Hitting back at Siddaramaiah, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi said, "One cannot escape from his responsibility by comparing to Kumbh. Kumbh and this incident can't be compared. First of all, the police denied then why did you (Siddaramaiah govermment) force them to give the permission? Secondly, I ask Siddaramaiah-ji why did they continue with the celebration after the occurrence of death?

"Why did the Deputy Chief Minister go to r...