Vijay’s intentional delay caused Karur stampede, TN tells SC

The Tamil Nadu Government has told the Supreme Court that the Karur stampede in which 41 people were killed is attributable to a series of “reckless and uncoordinated actions” by the organisers and workers of the TVK party.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the state government said there was an intentional delay of approximately seven hours by Vijay at the designated Karur site to invite more crowd at the venue.

“Thiru C Joseph Vijay, leader of TVK, departed Chennai at 8.40 am by air en route to Tiruchirappalli, arriving at 9.25 am. He subsequently proceeded to Namakkal to attend a scheduled programme and departed thereafter for Kaur, which resulted in an arrival delay of approximately seven hours at the designated Karur venue. It shows his intentional delay to invite more crowd at the venue,” the state government said.

Meanwhile, the Puducherry police on Tuesday denied permission for actor-politician Vijay’s roadshow slated for December 5 in the union territory.

Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party had sought permission to conduct a roadshow from Kalapet to Kannaiakoil and also for Vijay to address a public meeting near Sonnampalayam water tank.

However, after the police declined to permit the roadshow, TVK general secretaries B Anand and Aadhav Arjuna met senior police officials here on December 1 and requested for the permission.