Police-DMK conspiracy behind Karur stampede, alleges CM Vijay

KARUR: Returning to Karur for the first time after the stampede at his rally that killed 41 people in September last year, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday (July 10) alleged that the previous DMK regime had politicised the tragedy, implied a conspiracy behind failing to ensure adequate police arrangements despite prior warnings about the large crowd, and said he was hunting the wrongdoers relentlessly.

Describing the stampede as "the most painful moment in my life” that continued to haunt him, Vijay recalled that before his statewide "Makkal Sandhippu" tour ahead of the Assembly polls reached Karur, the police had advised him to cancel his visit to Perambalur due to crowd-related safety concerns.

However, similar action was not taken in Karur despite the larger-than-expected turnout, he said.

Instead, the Karur police had escorted him to the venue, which, he later realised, was part of a “drama”, Vijay alleged. He also questioned who had instructed officials to handle the event in that manner and alleged a conspiracy behind the stampede.

“We lost our brothers, sisters, and their little kids but you (DMK) have been humiliating me. I was sitting at home with unbearable pain after losing the loved ones, but you criticised me that I ran away,” he said.

Announcing a memorial in Karur on behalf of TVK for those who lost their lives in the tragedy, Vijay said it would serve as a reminder to ensure that no such political conspiracy was ever attempted again.

The chief minister urged people to continue rejecting the DMK in future elections, saying their verdict in the 2026 Assembly polls alone was not enough and that the party should be defeated permanently.

In an apparent reference to influential DMK leader V Senthilbalaji, Vijay alleged that a "Karur company owner", who had benefited during the previous regime, was now on the run, and even sang a song from his movie ‘Vettaikaaran’ to mock him.

Without naming Highways Minister EV Velu, he said another leader who had travelled abroad, quipping that he was referring to the ex-minister who had gone to Singapore for a medical check-up and not DMK president MK Stalin.

Vijay said his government cancelled a contract to construct a flyover in Chennai after finding that the it had fixed the amount at nearly double the cost. The investigations were continuing and more such irregularities would surface and more people would be caught, he claimed.

Claiming his government had eliminated bribery in government offices within the initial weeks itself, Vijay said people were now availing services without having to pay bribes. If anyone demanded bribe, the people should refuse and refer his name, Vijay said.

On the Mekedatu dam issue, Vijay argued that safeguarding the State's interests through legal and administrative action was more important than making political statements. "Ours is talk-less-work-more mode," he said.

The chief minister also warned that Tamil Nadu would strongly oppose any attempt by the Centre to implement delimitation that reduced the State's representation.