Chennai, Oct 6 (NationPress) The General Secretary of AIADMK and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), has accused the DMK government of negligence regarding the tragic stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur on September 27, which resulted in the loss of 41 lives and injuries to over 60 individuals.

In a forceful statement, EPS pointed to eyewitness accounts and comprehensive media coverage that clearly indicate the tragedy stemmed from administrative incompetence and political negligence.

“Had the government implemented appropriate safety measures and managed the event properly, these fatalities could have been prevented,” he remarked.

Palaniswami posed several critical questions to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the Home Department.

He questioned the rationale behind permitting an unregulated influx of people into an already crowded area, especially as the event was delayed.

“Essential safety and emergency protocols were overlooked. Victims mentioned a power outage that caused chaos. Why was there no backup power? Did the police and district administration conduct any security assessments or devise plans for crowd control, medical assistance, and evacuation routes?” he questioned.

Criticizing the police response, he referenced eyewitness footage that depicted insufficient deployment and delayed reactions as the crowd grew for hours.

“Why did the police merely observe from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. as the situation deteriorated? Who instructed them not to act?” EPS queried, highlighting discrepancies in the official narrative.

EPS also challenged ADGP (Law & Order) S. Davidson Devasirvatham’s assertion that there was one police officer for every 20 attendees.

“The ADGP initially stated that 500 officers were on duty, but later refrained from providing an exact figure. Visual evidence contradicts the claim of adequate presence,” he stated.

Condemning the DMK government for attempting to evade responsibility, Palaniswami called for them to acknowledge both moral and administrative accountability. “These are not mere assertions -- they are the voices of survivors, witnesses, and even police personnel. They cannot be silenced or dismissed. These 41 lives were lost not due to fate but as a result of official negligence and indifference,” he demanded, calling for full accountability and a transparent investigation into the failures that led to the calamity.