Stalin: BJP Delegation for Karur Tragedy Shows Selective Concern

The escalating political storm surrounding the tragic stampede at actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur district intensified on Friday as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unleashed a pointed critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With 41 lives lost in the September 27 incident—where an estimated 25,000-27,000 fans overwhelmed a narrow venue permitted for just 10,000—Stalin accused the BJP of hypocrisy and opportunistic electioneering ahead of the 2026 state polls.

"No probe panel was dispatched to BJP-ruled Manipur after the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023, claiming over 258 lives and displacing 60,000 people, nor to the Maha Kumbh stampede in Uttar Pradesh this January, which killed at least 30 pilgrims," Stalin remarked during a press briefing. "Yet, a delegation of opposition MPs was rushed to Karur within days. This isn't concern for Tamil Nadu—it's a blatant bid for political mileage."

The Manipur violence, triggered by disputes over Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community, saw a three-member judicial commission formed in June 2023, but Stalin highlighted the absence of any high-profile parliamentary fact-finding mission from the Centre. Similarly, the Prayagraj crowd crush on January 29, 2025—blamed on broken barriers and overzealous devotees crossing barricades amid 30 million bathers—prompted a judicial probe ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government, but no equivalent multi-party delegation was mobilized.

Stalin reserved special ire for the inclusion of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the eight-member BJP-led team that visited Karur on Tuesday. Born in Madurai and a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Sitharaman was positioned as a "representative" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government. "Sending her reeks of tokenism, especially amid our ongoing tussle with the Centre over delayed fund releases for key projects like education and infrastructure," the DMK supremo fumed. Tamil Nadu has repeatedly alleged discriminatory fund allocation by the BJP-led Centre, with Stalin's administration claiming a shortfall of over ₹10,000 crore in the current fiscal year.

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The delegation, spearheaded by Tamil cinema icon and BJP MP Hema Malini, met grieving families and injured survivors during their visit. Hema Malini, drawing parallels to her own stardom, lambasted the state administration for allotting "a small road" instead of a larger ground. "For a star of Vijay's stature, this was unfair. Thousands of women and young girls flocked to see him. A bigger venue could have prevented this heartbreak," she asserted to reporters.

The team, which included former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, echoed calls for accountability, demanding a detailed "report" from Stalin on the stampede's "primary factors"—despite lacking any legal authority to do so. Thakur followed up with a formal letter on Wednesday, pressing for "preventive measures to avert future incidents."

The tragedy's aftermath has been a cauldron of blame-shifting. Tamil Nadu Police have charged TVK organizers, including general secretary N. Mathiyazhagan (now in 15-day judicial custody), for ignoring on-site warnings about crowd buildup and delaying Vijay's arrival by seven hours to showcase "political strength." The FIR details how the surge occurred as fans pushed toward Vijay's delayed convoy on the narrow Karur-Erode highway stretch in Velusamypuram village. Forensic teams even recovered bodies from nearby sewers, underscoring the chaos.

In retaliation, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has cried foul, alleging a "DMK conspiracy" to sabotage their rising momentum. In his September 30 video statement—the first since the stampede—Vijay dared authorities to target him personally but spare his cadres, accusing Stalin of "vendetta politics." He announced ₹20 lakh compensation per deceased family, though critics note the funds remain undisbursed, unlike the state's prompt ₹10 lakh ex gratia. TVK has escalated matters by petitioning the Madras High Court for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and directives ensuring Vijay can visit bereaved families without hindrance.

The DMK mouthpiece *Murasoli* has piled on, branding Vijay's delayed schedule and inadequate crowd management as "arrogant" oversights fueled by his "publicity mania." Meanwhile, ally Congress has urged restraint, with Karur Lok Sabha MP S. Jothimani emphasizing aid for victims over politicking: "Our priority must be healing the wounded and supporting the shattered families."

As the BJP maneuvers to corner the ruling DMK—sensing a chink in their armor just months from elections—the row lays bare deepening fault lines in Tamil Nadu's polarized politics. With TVK postponing Vijay's rallies for two weeks and opposition voices amplifying demands for transparency, the Karur tragedy threatens to redefine campaign strategies.

Analysts warn that while the BJP's aggressive posturing may rally its base, Stalin's counter-narrative of selective federalism could galvanize southern sentiments against perceived northern overreach. In a state where Vijay's star power once promised to upend the Dravidian duopoly, this mishap now casts a long shadow over his electoral debut.

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