Former Minister and DMK’s Karur district secretary V. Senthilbalaji strongly defended the State government following a stampede at actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) political rally. During a press conference on October 1, 2025, he stated that the government fulfilled its obligations and attributed the incident’s failures to inadequate crowd management by TVK.
Speaking to reporters at the DMK office in Karur, Senthilbalaji detailed his rebuttal of claims against the government, providing timelines and comparisons involving past DMK events to support his position. He also displayed video footage to reinforce his arguments. Addressing accusations that TVK was denied an appropriate venue, he noted that the party had only requested three specific locations: Lighthouse Corner, Uzhavar Sandhai, and Velusamypuram.
Highlighting a recent DMK event, “Mupperum Vizha,” that attracted nearly 250,000 attendees, Senthilbalaji contrasted its meticulous arrangements with those of the TVK rally. “We utilized private land, obtained the necessary permissions, and ensured ample provisions, including water, snacks, and medical aid,” he asserted. He questioned TVK’s responsibility, citing the chaos that resulted in thousands of slippers being left behind, with no water bottles visible amid the aftermath.
In response to claims that streetlights were intentionally turned off during the rally, he clarified that due to overcrowding, people had forced open generator shed gates. He insisted that no lights were disabled deliberately and questioned why media outlets didn’t report such an act if it had occurred.
Senthilbalaji addressed the incident of slippers being thrown, providing a timeline of events during Vijay’s speech. He noted that the first slipper was thrown six minutes into the speech, while audience distress regarding fainting individuals only came to light later. “He spoke about me only after the 16-minute mark; how can anyone claim the slippers were thrown for that reason?” he argued.
He further explained that police had requested TVK leaders to allow Vijay to address the gathering from a location 500 meters away to control swelling crowds. However, TVK insisted on reaching their desired spot, which led to the ensuing chaos. “In our rallies, district secretaries manage crowd control before our leader arrives. Such arrangements were clearly lacking at their event,” he stated.
Discussing emergency measures, Senthilbalaji pointed out that two ambulances from Namakkal and five locally organized by TVK were available for the injured. He emphasized that the government acted appropriately, as hospitals promptly treated those affected by the stampede.
In addressing allegations of violence, he questioned the absence of evidence regarding the use of knives or bottles during the rally. He urged that proof of such incidents should be substantiated, especially as reports tend to circulate rapidly on social media.
Commenting on the visit of the NDA delegation, he expressed disappointment that fact-finding teams did not investigate incidents in Manipur or past tragedies like the Maha Kumbh Mela stampede. “Yet, a team is quickly dispatched to Karur. They are welcome to seek the truth here,” he said.
Senthilbalaji concluded by reiterating that the government had acted correctly while suggesting that the onus lay with TVK to provide clear answers. He urged all those commenting on social media to present their evidence to the Commission of Inquiry rather than indulge in speculation.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/karur-stampede-tvk-vijay-rally-tamul-nadu-govt-dmk-senthilbalaji/article70116412.ece
Category : Tamil Nadu
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Publish Date: 2025-10-01 21:35:00
