CHENNAI, (India): Exactly a month after 41 people were crushed to death in a stampede at his Karur rally, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Monday (Oct 27) met the family members of Karur stampede victims at a hotel in Mahabalipuram.
According to reports, the TVK arranged special buses to bring some 150 relatives of the stampede victims to Chennai.
While most families obliged, some reportedly refused to meet the actor-politician citing various reasons, including health issues and rituals for their loved ones.
During the meeting, Vijay assured his support for the education of the deceased’s children. He also offered to bear all the medical expenses of the surving family members.
Meanwhile, the fact that Vijay is meeting the families at a hotel and not at their homes has sparked a political row in the state with the ruling DMK slamming the actor-politician for not having the courtesy to go to their houses and console them.
“The affected people are meeting Vijay today because they are coming to his place. Vijay has no courtesy to go to their houses and inquire about them and pacify them…,” DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said.
Elangovan further charged that the TVK chief wants to do politics from home.
“Vijay’s politics is different. He wants to do politics from home and does not want to go to the people…,” Elangovan said.
As many as 41 people were killed and over 50 others were injured in a stampede at Vijay’s rally in Karur on Sept 27 this year.
The incident occurred at Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode Highway, after a large crowd gathered for a political rally.
While Vijay alleged a political conspiracy, a CBI probe is currently underway to investigate the incident and determine the reasons behind it.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to come up within 10 days with SOP governing permission granted to political parties and other organisations seeking to conduct public meetings.
The high court has also permitted others, including AIADMK, to submit their suggestions by Nov 11.
The court, however, made it clear that the order shall not be an impediment in considering applications seeking to hold public meetings in places other than state or national highways. - The Statesman/ANN
