Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Meeting on Wednesday witnessed a heated debate over the toll of deaths at TVK Vijay chief minister’s rally in Karur on September 27, with Chief Minister MK Stalin concentrating on the actor-turned-politician, saying his late arrival on the venue had led to “congestion”.
Nevertheless, opposition chief and AIADMK basic secretary Edappadi Ok Palaniswami accused the DMK authorities of “failing” to make sure ample safety on the venue.
Talking within the Lok Sabha on the incident, Prime Minister Stalin mentioned that Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) had sought permission for the rally however a number of venues have been refused as a consequence of visitors considerations.
“The district secretary then recognized one other location and permission was granted with 11 situations. The police anticipated a heavy presence. The permission was from 3 pm to 10 pm and the occasion had promised that its leaders would arrive by midday, however they arrived at 7 pm. This delay led to congestion,” Stalin mentioned. with out mentioning Vijay’s identify.
He additionally expressed his condolences to the bereaved households.
In response to Stalin’s important remarks, Palaniswami launched a direct assault on Stalin, claiming that the Stalin authorities’s “inaction” was liable for 41 deaths within the stampede. “The unlucky incident may have been averted if the police had given ample safety to Mr. Vijay’s camp. It is a failure of the DMK authorities,” he mentioned in Parliament.
Later, DMK MLA and Minister Durai Murugan requested EPS why they might not admire the Prime Minister for instantly visiting the spot and taking immediate motion.
When EPS mentioned that it was his duty as prime minister, Stalin lashed out at him. “By that logic, would you say the identical in regards to the Thoothukudi police firing if you have been chief minister?” he mentioned, referring to the loss of life of 13 anti-Sterlite protesters in police firing.
EPS countered, “Then why did not you go to Karakurichi after the bootlegging incident (final June by which 60 folks have been killed)?”
Stalin replied that ministers have been instantly despatched there. “What occurred in Kallakurichi was that individuals died as a result of they ate the fuchi, and in Karur harmless folks have been crushed to loss of life by the stampede.”
Later, AIADMK MLAs raised slogans demanding deletion of their statements concerning Thoothokudi capturing incident. When the Speaker refused, AIADMK members went on strike led by EPS.
EPS instructed reporters after the strike that the federal government had failed to provide ample solutions when opposition events raised questions beneath Rule 56 concerning the Karur tragedy.
“I instructed the Home that it might be applicable for the Prime Minister to reply after the Opposition has spoken on the Karur incident. Nevertheless, the Speaker allowed the Prime Minister to talk first,” he mentioned, accusing the DMK authorities of “inaction” over the loss of life toll.
“These deaths may have been prevented if the federal government beneath Stalin had supplied ample safety for the convention. The federal government has proven one type of justice to the ruling occasion and one other to the opposition. It’s this negligence that led to the deaths of 41 folks. However now we hear that these statements have been faraway from the parliamentary file,” EPS mentioned.
Requested about allegations that he was concerned in political actions surrounding the tragic incident, EPS mentioned that was not true.
“The Prime Minister says this can be a matter of Tamil pleasure. I additionally communicate from the identical Tamil sentiments. I visited the scene the subsequent morning to pay my respects and provide my condolences, however I didn’t make it political. However once I communicate in Parliament, they don’t give me an opportunity and as an alternative attempt to let the Prime Minister communicate. Why will we really feel this anxiousness except now we have one thing to cover?” EPS requested.
It isn’t our intention to make anybody a scapegoat for the atrocities in Karur. However when some folks intentionally unfold lies towards the federal government, it turns into crucial to elucidate the reality about what occurred.
“Normal pointers” to forestall recurrence… pic.twitter.com/GrzLEBEESv
— MKStalin – Tamil Nadu is not going to give up (@mkstalin) October 15, 2025
After the AIADMK went on strike, the chief minister instructed Parliament that the opposition events have been crying out for a “third occasion” as they have been “desirous to kind an alliance with the occasion”.
“Let me ask them: Even when that alliance materializes, solely the DMK will win the elections,” he instructed Congress.
The Prime Minister later mentioned in a publish about X that his intention was to not “blame or scapegoat anybody”.
“Each time some folks intentionally unfold lies in regards to the authorities, it turns into our obligation to elucidate the reality about what occurred. The federal government has set customary pointers to make sure that this doesn’t occur once more. We’ll take all steps primarily based on the ultimate judgment of the Supreme Courtroom. All events will act with a way of duty as human life is probably the most valuable factor!” Stalin mentioned in a publish on X.
The stampede passed off on September 27, when a big crowd turned out and triggered chaos at Mr. Vijay’s election rally in Velasamipuram in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Mr. Vijay was scheduled to marketing campaign for his TVK in Namakkal and Karur districts that day. He was scheduled to start out campaigning at 8:45 am in Namakkal, however reached the venue round 2:45 pm and spoke for about quarter-hour earlier than speeding to Karur.
He was supposed to start out his rally in Karur at 12:45 pm, however he reached the venue round 7:30 pm. Witnesses instructed ThePrint that chaos erupted as folks rushed in droves to see him.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Additionally learn: DMK’s confidential survey reveals that if TVK, led by Mr. Vijay, leads within the Tennessee polls, it could have a 23% vote share.
