BJP ‘playing politics’ over Karur tragedy, alleges TNCC president Selvaperunthagai

By Admin

03 Oct, 2025

The tragic stampede at actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, which claimed 41 lives, continues to stir heated political debates in Tamil Nadu. On Thursday (October 2, 2025), Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “playing politics” over the tragedy instead of focusing on the victims and their families.

Criticism of BJP’s Committee Formation

Mr. Selvaperunthagai strongly criticised the BJP’s decision to form an eight-member committee led by Lok Sabha MP Hema Malini. He alleged that the committee was politically motivated and questioned the choice of leadership, stating that Ms. Malini “did not know even the north from south of Karur.” He argued that such a move was aimed at gaining political mileage rather than genuinely addressing the incident.

Congress Backs State Government’s Inquiry

The TNCC president pointed out that the Tamil Nadu government had already acted responsibly by appointing a one-member commission, headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to investigate the circumstances leading to the stampede. According to him, this official inquiry is sufficient, and any parallel committee set up by the BJP only undermines the process.

Defence of Police Action

Rejecting BJP’s criticism of the state police, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the allegations were baseless. He emphasised that videos from the incident clearly showed police personnel acting professionally and making sincere efforts to manage the chaos. “There are even videos attesting to the sincere efforts of the police during the tragedy,” he remarked, condemning attempts to shift blame onto law enforcement.

Charge of Double Standards

The Congress leader accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming that while the party engaged in “vote theft” on one hand, it was also “playing politics over the graves of the dead” in Karur. He contrasted this with the Union government’s inaction in Manipur, pointing out that despite continuing violence there, no fact-finding committee had been sent by the Centre.

Praise for Tamil Nadu Government

Mr. Selvaperunthagai lauded Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his administration for their handling of the tragedy. He urged the BJP to at least remain silent if they could not acknowledge the government’s efforts. “If they do not want to commend the Chief Minister, then they should remain silent,” he said, reiterating that the focus should remain on justice and support for the victims’ families rather than political gamesmanship.