The president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), K. Selvaperunthagai, strongly criticized the BJP on Thursday (October 2, 2025), accusing the party of exploiting the tragic stampede at actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur for political gain. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of 41 lives.
During a signature campaign in Udhagamandalam, Nilgiris, which the Congress described as a protest against ‘vote theft,’ Mr. Selvaperunthagai condemned the BJP’s decision to establish an eight-member committee. He specifically highlighted that the committee was being led by Lok Sabha MP Hema Malini, questioning her familiarity with the Karur region.
Mr. Selvaperunthagai pointed out that the government had already appointed a one-member commission, headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the Karur tragedy. He asserted that the BJP’s parallel committee was nothing more than a cynical attempt to politicize the deaths of the victims.
He further defended the police, rejecting BJP’s criticisms and emphasizing that videos clearly show the officers acting with professionalism and making sincere efforts during the crisis. The TNCC president accused the BJP of engaging in both “vote theft” and “playing politics over the graves of the dead.”
In conclusion, Mr. Selvaperunthagai praised the state government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for their effective handling of the tragedy. He urged the BJP to refrain from unwarranted criticism, suggesting that if they couldn’t commend the Chief Minister, they should at least remain silent, especially given the lack of similar fact-finding committees from the Union government regarding ongoing violence in places like Manipur.