Kanimozhi tears into Vijay over Karur stampede, calls his conduct ‘inhuman’
Kanimozhi described this as an “inhumane act.” She pointed out that leaders and functionaries from across the political spectrum were present in Karur, except those from actor Vijay’s TVK.;
DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi
CHENNAI: Strongly condemning Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay and his party functionaries for failing to console the families of those who lost their lives in the horrific Karur stampede that claimed over 41 lives, DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi said she had never seen a political leader so preoccupied with his own safety that he chose to flee the scene, abandoning the victims.
Kanimozhi described this as an “inhumane act.” She pointed out that leaders and functionaries from across the political spectrum were present in Karur, except those from actor Vijay’s TVK. "Instead of staying back to console the families of the victims, the leader left the spot, something I have never witnessed before. Even if he could not stay, his second-rung leaders should have stepped in to take his place. But none were seen, nor did they extend any help to the affected people," the DMK’s deputy general secretary told reporters at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam.
Referring to Vijay’s immediate departure from Karur to Chennai in the wake of the stampede, Kanimozhi said, "For me, it is nothing but an inhumane act, a leader prioritising his own safety, while victims were suffering."
Drawing a sharp contrast, she cited Chief Minister M K Stalin’s approach, noting that his message was clear and aimed at calming the prevailing situation and ensuring people’s safety. The CM, she said, had emphasised that no leader would wish for their cadre or supporters to suffer, and had appealed against blame-shifting.
She also launched a scathing attack on TVK general secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna over his incendiary social media posts inciting violence, calling for Gez Z ‘revolution’ in a now-deleted X post, branding them the 'height of irresponsibility.' "Such provocation in the aftermath of a tragedy is reckless," Kanimozhi said.
She also dismissed TVK’s "conspiracy theories" over the stampede, stressing that the judicial inquiry commission’s findings would bring the truth to light and ensure appropriate legal action.
She further emphasised that the DMK and its government stood firmly with the affected people, rather than engaging in a blame game.
The CM reached Karur the same night, visited the grieving families, mobilised the government machinery to respond swiftly, and constituted a commission of inquiry to establish the circumstances that led to the deadly stampede. "He also appealed to political parties to work together to avert such tragedies in future," she said, noting that the opposition parties are making their demands for a central agency probe only for political gain.