In Karur, Tamil Nadu, opposition leader and AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami visited families grieving the loss of loved ones from a tragic stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s rally. The incident, which happened on Sunday, has left a heavy toll: 39 people dead, including women and children, and more than 80 others injured and receiving care in local hospitals.
Palaniswami first stopped at Karur Government Hospital to console the bereaved families. From there, he didn’t hold back in slamming the poor safety setup at the event. Reports show a sudden power cut plunged the venue into darkness, sparking panic that led to the deadly crush.
“Teams should have planned better for the crowd,” Palaniswami said. He noted that TVK had already hosted meetings in four districts, so authorities could have expected a big turnout. “No real security measures were in place,” he added, pointing to clear planning failures in this Tamil Nadu stampede.
He went further, accusing the state of skimping on police protection for opposition rallies. “Even my own events get shortchanged on security,” he said. “But ruling party gatherings? They get full lockdown-level protection. This uneven treatment is risky, and it could have prevented these Karur rally deaths.”
Palaniswami avoided naming any one person but stressed that political parties need to step up. “Stick to schedules—delays stir up crowds and lead to chaos,” he urged. He called it a rare disaster for Indian political events, blaming police and admin slip-ups. One odd detail caught his eye: reports of an ambulance rushing into the venue without warning. “That needs answers in the probe,” he insisted. “We must investigate fairly—it’s about truth for these families, not politics.”
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin responded quickly, announcing 10 lakh rupees in aid from the relief fund for each deceased family and one lakh rupees for the injured. He’s also set up a judicial commission led by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to dig into the TVK rally tragedy.
Palaniswami pushed for full transparency and accountability from the government. “Rise above party lines and protect lives at big gatherings,” he said. He called for fresh safety rules to stop future political rally stampedes in Tamil Nadu.
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