“If government had provided proper security, 41 lives could have been saved”: Palaniswami over Karur tragedy
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu chief minister, sharply criticized the state government on Thursday for the deadly Karur stampede that killed 41 people. He accused the administration of skimping on security at the political rally, turning what should have been a routine event into a tragedy.
Speaking at a public gathering, Palaniswami demanded answers and accountability. “If the government had provided proper security today, those 41 lives could have been saved,” he said. “Who is responsible for these deaths in Tamil Nadu?” He stressed that such stampedes never happened at past public meetings or rallies, urging the DMK-led government to step up safety measures for all future events.
Palaniswami didn’t stop there. He claimed the ruling DMK offers one level of protection for its own events and allies—deploying plenty of police—but deliberately withholds it from opposition gatherings like AIADMK’s. “The police report directly to Chief Minister MK Stalin,” he added. “As a responsible leader, he should have given clear instructions. With better police support, we wouldn’t have lost 41 lives.”
The Karur tragedy unfolded on September 27 at Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode Highway. A massive crowd gathered for a political rally, but actor-politician Vijay’s delayed arrival sparked chaos, leading to the stampede. At least 41 people died, and more than 100 others suffered injuries in the chaos.
Pointing to the government’s inquiry commission, Palaniswami said it limited what AIADMK leaders could say publicly. Still, he insisted no one should dodge blame. He mocked Stalin’s earlier promise that Tamil Nadu would never bow its head, saying the state—and the whole nation—now hangs in shame over the incident.
“Why does the government give maximum security to empty spaces but not to crowded rallies where thousands show up?” Palaniswami asked. He predicted voters would hold the DMK accountable in the 2026 elections. For years, Tamil Nadu has hosted countless public meetings without such disasters, he noted. Even during his recent campaign across 163 constituencies, security came only in a handful of districts, leaving AIADMK and its allies to handle most arrangements themselves.
The AIADMK leader also took a jab at former Karur minister Senthil Balaji, who looked shaken while addressing the press about the stampede. An inquiry is underway under a deputy superintendent of police, but Palaniswami questioned its fairness, especially after a senior ADGP officer defended the government publicly. “The fear on your face is clear,” he told Balaji.
In the end, Palaniswami called on the Tamil Nadu government to own up to the security failure in Karur instead of pointing fingers. He repeated his plea: Ensure robust protection at every public event to prevent another heartbreaking loss of lives.
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