Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Returns to Karur, Reflects on Tragedy and Critiques Police

CM Vijay's Emotional Return to Karur

After a tragic stampede in Karur that claimed 41 lives and impacted the state assembly elections, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Vijay made his return to the city on Friday. During his visit, he defended his actions related to the incident, questioned the police's response, and launched a strong critique against the previous DMK government. Addressing a gathering aimed at distributing appointment letters to the families of the victims, Vijay emotionally recalled the tragedy, expressing that the weight of that loss still burdens his mind.

This marked his first visit to Karur since taking office as Chief Minister. He reflected on the lasting mental scars that individuals carry, regardless of their achievements, stating, "No matter how high one rises, some wounds and injuries are never forgotten. We have reached this point by overcoming various injuries and scars. However, the most painful wound for me was the incident in Karur." He emphasized that his visit last year was part of his effort to connect with the people of TVK and raise awareness about their issues.

Vijay recounted that after concluding a meeting in Ariyalur, the Perambalur police had warned him about the large crowd gathering. He mentioned that he was advised against attending due to the potential delay and safety concerns. "We had no choice but to heed the police's advice. When they tell us something, we must comply, right? Considering the safety of the people in Perambalur, we returned with heavy hearts," he stated.

He dismissed accusations against his party regarding the deaths, arguing that crowd management was the police's responsibility. The actor-turned-politician expressed his trust in the police to control the crowd, yet he was still held accountable for the fatalities. Criticizing the security arrangements at the rally, he pointed out that officials could have prevented the tragedy by informing his team about the deteriorating situation. Instead, they chose to play the blame game.