Vijay accuses DMK of seeking political gain over Karur tragedy, blames police
In his first visit to Karur since the 2025 stampede, TN CM says police could have warned TVK of swelling crowds, but didn’t do that
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday (July 10) tore into the DMK government, accusing it of attempting to gain "political mileage" from the tragic stampede in Karur last year and restraining him from visiting the district.
Addressing a massive gathering in his first visit to Karur since the 2025 stampede that killed 41 persons, Vijay faulted the police for not alerting him about the swelling crowd at the TVK venue on September 27 last, nor taking any steps to cancel the meeting as the crowd had become unmanageable to control.
Police could have alerted us: Vijay
“The police could have alerted us that the crowd was swelling and becoming unmanageable to control. The police have the right to cancel the meeting. Without doing so, the police escorted us on the highway," Vijay said.
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Vijay could not meet the affected 41 families in Karur last year but had those affected families brought near Chennai, and he personally consoled them.
At the meeting on Friday, Vijay said, "I trusted the police fully and even thanked them at the meeting. I didn't know about the drama. Who is responsible for this? Under whose instruction was all this done?" he asked.
CM announces memorial for victims
In an apparent reference to DMK, he accused the Dravidian party of trying to gain political mileage from the tragedy.
He said the Karur stampede has caused him immense anguish.
“We have lost children of our sisters in the 2025 Karur stampede," he said.
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The chief minister, clad in black attire, also announced the establishment of a memorial on behalf of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, for the victims of the Karur stampede.
Later, he took out a road show, with people queuing up on either side of the road in good numbers. He waved at them and greeted them with folded hands.