More than a week after the deadly Karur stampede that killed 41 people, Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan visited the site and said the organisers in particular had a responsibility and that it was time to apologise and accept their mistake. Urging people not to keep blaming others, Haasan told the media, “It has gone wrong, it is time to apologise, time to accept the mistake.” The Rajya Sabha MP was accompanied by DMK leader and former minister V Senthil Balaji during his visit. He said, “This matter is sub judice. let us help the government do its duty.” Referring to Balaji, a Karur-based DMK heavyweight who played a significant role in relief and rescue efforts, Haasan added, “Let us thank him for being there on time.” The actor-turned-politician also interacted with affected people during his visit and claimed that the tragedy could have been worse if the event had been held elsewhere. The stampede, which occurred during TVK chief and superstar Vijay’s rally, has caused ripples in Tamil Nadu’s political circles as the BJP explores the possibility of a political realignment and blaming the state government while leaving the actor out of its accusations. The state police have arrested several senior TVK functionaries following the incident, with cases filed against its state general secretary ‘Bussy’ N Anand and deputy state general secretary Nirmal Kumar on charges of culpable homicide and crowd mismanagement. Vijay himself has not been named in any FIR, with the DMK also wary of a backlash from any action against the actor. However, the DMK’s mouthpiece Murasoli, in its editorial, lambasted Vijay, especially for his video statement, challenging the state government to arrest him. Murasoli said the video showed that “his arrogance, which is responsible for the killing of 41 persons, and the haughtiness that arose from his hunger for money, publicity mania, and desire for power, has not subsided yet.” The Madras High Court last week rebuked Vijay and his outfit, TVK. Justice N Senthilkumar also ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Asra Garg, condemning what he described as the party’s reckless conduct and the leader’s failure to show remorse.
