Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Criticizes DMK Over Karur Stampede Incident

Vijay's Strong Remarks on Political Exploitation

Karur (Tamil Nadu): On Friday, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed his discontent with the DMK, accusing them of trying to exploit the tragic stampede that occurred last year for political gain and preventing him from visiting the area.

This marked his first visit to Karur since the unfortunate incident in 2025, which resulted in the loss of 41 lives. During his visit, Vijay criticized the police for failing to inform him about the increasing crowd at the TVK venue on September 27, which ultimately led to the chaos.

"The police should have warned us about the growing crowd, which became impossible to manage. They had the authority to cancel the meeting, yet they chose to escort us on the highway instead," Vijay remarked, reflecting on his initial visit since assuming office in May.

Last year, he was unable to meet the families of the victims in Karur but made arrangements for them to come to Chennai, where he personally offered his condolences.

During the meeting, he stated, "I had complete trust in the police and even expressed my gratitude at the gathering. I was unaware of the underlying issues. Who is accountable for this? Who gave the orders for such actions?"

He accused the DMK, then in power, of attempting to gain political advantage from the tragedy.

Vijay expressed deep sorrow over the Karur stampede, stating, "We have lost the children of our sisters in the 2025 Karur stampede."

Dressed in black, he also announced plans to create a memorial on behalf of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), to honor the victims of the stampede.

Following the meeting, he participated in a roadshow, where he was greeted by large crowds lining the streets, waving back and acknowledging them with folded hands.