A BJP delegation of eight MPs, led by Hema Malini and including Anurag Thakur and Tejasvi Surya, visited Tamil Nadu on Tuesday to review the circumstances surrounding the Karur stampede, which left 41 people dead during a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay.
Speaking to reporters, Hema Malini said, “We have come here after the incident happened. On September 27, a sad accident happened. We came here to see what happened. We went to the spot. It was in a very bad shape. Even the local people told us what all they witnessed. They told us what time Vijay came, they told us how so many young people came, ladies, children came. It is wrong that they gave this small area. Vijay came in a big bus. It seems something fishy here.”
She further said, “It is sad to see that 41 people died. In this hospital, 51 people are there, they are still in pain. Our question is who is responsible. Whoever the administration and who were the organisers who approved the site for speech.”
BJP MP Anurag Thakur called for an impartial inquiry into the incident. “There should be a free and fair probe by a Supreme Court judge. What were the shortcomings from the organisers? What led to this situation where fans and followers lost their lives? We want the officials to reply by this weekend. We do not want to delay it. What was the intelligence department doing here?” he said.
The delegation is expected to submit its report to the BJP leadership after meeting officials, visiting affected families, and reviewing the administrative measures taken in the aftermath of the stampede.
DMK ALLY SLAMS NDA DELEGATION
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan accused the BJP of politicising the Karur tragedy by forming a “fact-finding committee” with political motives. He urged the Congress party to immediately set up its own committee, preferably with MPs from outside Tamil Nadu, to intervene and counter the BJP’s actions.
BJP’s Vinoj Selvam responded sarcastically, suggesting that Congress’s committee would have “absolutely no ulterior motive.” He praised the BJP committee for going directly to the field and working to restore peace, while criticising Thirumavalavan for ignoring the issue for political gains in the DMK alliance.
– Ends