"DMK govt failed to take precautionary measures": EPS tears into Stalin govt amid Karur stampede row

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 15 (ANI): AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition (LoP) Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday questioned the statements made by Chief Minister MK Stalin in the special assembly session on the Karur stampede incident, saying that the DMK government failed to take precautionary measures.
Questioning Stalin over his "606 police officers" on duty claim, Palaniswami said that police sources have revealed that only 500 personnel were deployed.
"The Chief Minister stated that over 600 police personnel were deployed, but police sources have reported that only about 500 were actually on duty. There is a clear discrepancy between what the Chief Minister said and what the police have stated. The government failed to take precautionary measures in the Karur stampede deaths," Palaniswami said while addressing the Tamil Nadu assembly.
"In the Karur crowd crush incident, around 41 people lost their lives. It is an extremely tragic and distressing event. On behalf of the AIADMK, I extend my deepest condolences," he added.
The AIADMK general secretary further stated that the state government was aware of the large crowd gatherings at the public meeting of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay. He added that the Karur tragedy could have been avoided if adequate security arrangements had been made beforehand.
"The TVK leader already conducted public interaction meetings in four districts. The government and the police are well aware of the large crowds that have attended his events in those areas. Based on that, if adequate security arrangements had been made in Karur, this disaster could have been avoided," Palaniswami said.
"When AIADMK requested permission to hold a meeting at Veluchamipuram, the response was that it was a high-traffic area and therefore not suitable. But now, people believe that allocating the same location to TVK was an intentional act motivated by political interests," he added.
Responding to this, CM Stalin stated that Palaniswami's statements appear to be an attempt to draw TVK into the opposition alliance.
"A major incident recently took place in Karur. I responded in the assembly only because a reply was sought regarding that incident. Your speech sounds like an attempt to pull the (TVK) party into your alliance," Stalin said.
His response came as the Tamil Nadu LoP said, "The Chief Minister should be allowed to respond after the opposition has spoken. If he speaks first, what are we supposed to say afterwards?"
Refuting the allegation levelled by Stalin, Palaniswami asserted that they were not engaging in politics over the Karur stampede incident. "Ambulances in Karur had DMK students' wing photos, and there were photos of DMK on water bottles that were distributed. See who is doing politics," he said, adding, "The commission (formed by the government) should have gone to the spot morning itself, even without assistance."
Replying to the allegations levelled by the Tamil Nadu LoP, DMK MLA Durai Murugan said, "The Chief Minister, who didn't even sleep the whole night, went directly to the hospital. Can't you appreciate it first instead of levelling allegations?"
Meanwhile, Stalin informed the assembly that the one-person commission visited Karur on the afternoon of September 28. He further took a dig at Palaniswami over the police firing at the anti-Sterlite protest in the Ramanathapuram district, saying, "We all know what EPS replied when Thoothukudi protesters were shot dead by police."
"Already DGP led investigation and a one-man commission is investigating, but meanwhile some are trying to do politics and some are trying to spread false information on social media, that's why officials met the press and explained," he added.
Responding to EPS's questioning, officials meeting the press after the Karur incident, Stalin said, "EPS raised why officials meet the press and briefed on the Kaur stampede when a one-member commission is investigating. In the Thoothukudi firing, officials only explained through the media that the action was unavoidable. There is nothing wrong with holding an official meeting with the press to explain what happened in Karur. AIADMK is trying to create an issue since they wanted to walk out of the assembly."
"They (AIADMK) wanted an alliance (with TVK), and for that only they are raising this Karur stampede deaths issue here (in assembly). Whatever alliance they (AIADMK) make, People will never believe them and reject them," he added. (ANI)