Karur stampede | Govt did its part, TVK failed in duty: DMK’s Senthilbalaji

Former Minister and Karur DMK district secretary V. Senthilbalaji on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) mounted a vigorous defence of the State government in the aftermath of the Karur stampede at actor Vijay’s political rally, insisting that “what the government should do, it has done fully.” He placed the burden of failure on Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for what he termed poor crowd management and inadequate arrangements.

Addressing reporters at the DMK office in Karur town, Mr. Senthilbalaji spoke at length, rebutting allegations, giving timelines and comparisons drawn from his own party’s past events. He also played video footage to substantiate his stand.

On accusations that TVK was denied suitable venue, he said the party itself had sought only three locations — the Lighthouse Corner, Uzhavar Sandhai and Velusamypuram.

Pointing to a recent DMK “Mupperum Vizha” in Karur, which drew nearly 2.5 lakh people, Mr. Senthilbalaji contrasted the preparations. “We took private land, got permission, and held the event with arrangements: water bottles, biscuits, even medical aid for those with sugar and BP. It is the duty of the political party to ask for a place suitable for their crowd and to take care of people. I am not blaming anyone, but tell me — after the stampede, thousands of slippers were strewn about. Did anyone see even one water bottle there? Whose responsibility is that?”

On claims that street lights were switched off deliberately, he said, “Due to the overcrowding, people forced open the generator shed gates. An additional light went off. But no street lights were switched off. Everyone (TV channels) was going live. If someone had cut power deliberately, would it not have come to at least one media’s eye?”

Mr. Senthilbalaji presented a timeline to counter allegations on slippers being hurled when Mr.Vijay spoke about him.

“He spoke for about 19 minutes. In the 6th minute, the first slipper was thrown. At 6 minutes 40 seconds, the second one. At 7 minutes 12 seconds, one of the actor’s helpers told him people were fainting. By the 14th minute, an ambulance was called. Only in the 16th minute did he speak about me. So how can anyone say slippers were thrown because of me?

He said police, aware of the swelling crowd, had requested TVK leaders to allow the actor to address the gathering 500 metres ahead of the designated spot. “They insisted on reaching the point they wanted. Instead of controlling, they dragged the crowd forward. In our rallies, before our leader arrives, district secretaries organise the crowd. Was any such arrangement seen there?”

On emergency arrangements, he said: “Two ambulances came from Namakkal along with the TVK propaganda van. Five ambulances were arranged locally in Karur by the same party. The government did its part; hospitals received and treated the injured swiftly.”

Also Read | Karur stampede: a package on the tragedy at Vijay’s TVK rally in Tamil Nadu

On allegations of violence

Responding to claims of knives being used and people beaten with bottles, he asked: “If knives were used, should not the injured have gone to a hospital? If bottles were used, where is the evidence? Today anyone can circulate something on social media. If such things happened in that crowd, would no YouTube live or television visuals have captured it? Where is the proof? It is for the party concerned to answer.”

Criticism of fact-finding teams

Commenting on the NDA delegation visit, he remarked: “Fact-finding teams should have gone to Manipur and when the Maha Kumbh Mela stampede and a bridge collapsed in Gujarat. No team was sent there. But a team is rushed to Karur. Still, they are welcome to find the truth.”

“.The government has done everything properly. The political party (TVK) has not,” he said.

Everyone posting on social media must place their evidence before the Commission of Inquiry and not indulge in conjectures or exaggeration, he said.