Tamil Nadu Congress leader K. Selvaperunthagai made a strong call on Monday for politicians to set aside their differences and focus on helping families hit hard by the tragic stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur. Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport before heading to the area, he described the incident as “deeply painful” and slammed leaders who are turning the disaster into a political fight.
The chaos erupted on September 27 at the Velayuthampalayam rally in Karur, where thousands of excited fans rushed forward after Vijay wrapped up his speech. The stampede claimed 41 lives, including women and children, and left more than 60 people injured—many still recovering in hospitals. “When 41 people have died, how can anyone think of politics? This is a time of grief, not blame,” Selvaperunthagai said, pushing all parties to unite in supporting survivors and grieving families instead of pointing fingers.
He gave high marks to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his swift handling of the Karur stampede crisis. “The Chief Minister acted immediately—he set up a judicial commission, brought in doctors from nearby districts, and rolled out relief to stop any more heartbreak,” Selvaperunthagai noted. Stalin, who raced to Karur right after the tragedy, promised ₹10 lakh to each family of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured. He also thanked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for reaching out with support.
Not everyone agrees with the government’s response. AIADMK opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami blamed the ruling DMK for security failures and called for accountability. But Selvaperunthagai pushed back, defending the enquiry panel led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan. He pointed out that the AIADMK had picked her before to investigate the 2018 Thoothukudi police firing. “If they trusted her then, why question her now?” he asked.
Vijay, the star at the center of the TVK rally stampede, called the loss of lives “irreparable” and stepped up with aid: ₹20 lakh for each bereaved family and ₹2 lakh for those hurt. Selvaperunthagai also shot down claims from BJP leader K. Annamalai about political meddling, telling everyone to hold off on accusations until the commission delivers its findings. “Every commission files an interim report. Let’s wait for the truth before jumping to conclusions,” he urged, calling for more respect and compassion in how leaders talk about the Tamil Nadu tragedy.
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