Vijay vs Tamil Nadu: Blame game erupts after 40 die in Karur stampede

By Admin

29 Sep, 2025

The tragic Karur stampede has sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu and the nation, turning what was meant to be a show of political strength into a devastating human tragedy. At least 40 people lost their lives and over 100 were injured during actor-politician Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur on Saturday. While grieving families laid their loved ones to rest after post-mortems, the blame game between TVK, the Tamil Nadu government, and the police has already begun.

What Happened at Karur

Thousands gathered for Vijay’s rally, with expectations running high to see the superstar-turned-politician. However, police said the chaos was triggered by poor arrangements, an unmanageable crowd size, and Vijay’s late arrival. The TVK had reportedly sought permission for 10,000 people, but the turnout swelled to around 25,000. Despite the deployment of 500 police personnel, the crowd spiraled out of control.

According to Additional DGP Davidson Devasirvatham, the police had instructed organisers to stop Vijay’s campaign bus at least 50 metres before the stage. “But they insisted on parking at their chosen spot. For 10 minutes, the leader did not come out of the bus, which made the restless crowd surge forward,” he explained.

Police Version of Events

The Tamil Nadu police ruled out any intelligence failure, stressing that the tragedy was caused by organisational lapses. Vijay, they said, arrived three hours late to Karur after completing his rally in Namakkal. Supporters, who had been waiting the entire day, surged forward in desperation to catch a glimpse of their leader, leading to the deadly stampede.

The First Information Report (FIR) filed at Karur Town Police Station named TVK’s Karur (north) district secretary Madhiazhagan, general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar. They were charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to culpable homicide, attempt to commit culpable homicide, and endangering lives.

TVK’s Counter-Claims

TVK’s counsel, S Arivazhagan, has dismissed the police claims, alleging a political conspiracy behind the incident. He demanded a court-monitored probe or an investigation by an independent agency, further accusing authorities of conducting rushed autopsies without proper identification of bodies.

Adding to the fallout, a petition filed by an injured attendee, N Senthilkannan, has urged the court to bar TVK from conducting rallies until all inquiries are complete.

Political Reactions

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin personally met with the families of the victims and announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹10 lakh for the kin of the deceased and ₹1 lakh each for the injured. Calling the incident unprecedented in the state’s political history, Stalin vowed strict action once investigations reveal the truth. He has appointed Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to head the probe committee.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have pointed fingers at both Vijay and the government. Karnataka BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy called it a failure of both sides, noting Vijay’s inexperience and the government’s inability to control the crowd. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate expressed condolences but insisted that political leaders must take responsibility for tragedies of this scale.

The Road Ahead

The Karur stampede underscores the dangers of large political gatherings when safety protocols and crowd management measures are ignored. While the blame game between TVK and the state authorities intensifies, the real focus remains on the grieving families and survivors still battling injuries in Karur hospitals three of whom remain critical.

The committee-led probe will be crucial in determining accountability, and whether the tragedy will mark a turning point in how political rallies are organised in Tamil Nadu. For now, the stampede serves as a grim reminder of how political fervor, when coupled with poor planning, can turn into a disaster.