"Imposing opinions": BJP's Annamalai questions Senthil Balaji's remarks over Karur stampede

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 2 (ANI): BJP leader K Annamalai raised questions over DMK MLA V Senthil Balaji's media interaction after the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives, and slammed him for "imposing opinions" amid the ongoing probe.
Sharing an X post, Annamalai hit at Senthil Balaji for dismissing TVK and NDA's fact-finding team's claims as rumours.
According to the BJP leader, TVK had claimed that a slipper was thrown at party chief Vijay.
Annamalai wrote, "In the Karur TVK public meeting, regarding the tragic incident where members of the public lost their lives trapped in the crowd congestion, the National Democratic Alliance's MPs group has met with the affected public and recommended that an investigation into this sorrowful event be conducted under the leadership of a sitting Supreme Court judge."
"In this context, today, Karur DMK MLA and former Prohibition Minister Senthil Balaji, who met with the media, has made new claims. The case filed on behalf of TVK seeking a CBI investigation is scheduled to come up for hearing next Friday. TVK members have stated that there is evidence of untoward incidents, including the throwing of a slipper at Vijay during the meeting. It is for the court to decide whether to accept or reject the evidence submitted by TVK lawyers during the inquiry," he added.
Raising doubts over Senthil Balaji, Annamalai said that the NDA's fact-finding team was told that a stabbing incident had taken place at TVK's public meeting.
"Furthermore, a woman has told the National Democratic Alliance's fact-finding team that there was a stabbing incident at the meeting. With so many various allegations like this, what is the necessity for him to now hold a media meeting and claim that they are all rumours?" he wrote.
He slammed Chief Minister MK Stalin over the illicit liquor trade and heavy rains in the State, and questioned DMK's right to question TVK over the stampede.
Annamalai wrote, "Even as the DMK government itself has constituted a commission to investigate whether Karur Velusamypuram, where the meeting took place, was a suitable venue for the event, what is the necessity for Senthil Balaji to speak about that? Questions arise about the intention of imposing opinions."
"Does the DMK first have the qualification to question who went where and who did not go? When illicit liquor sold by DMK illicit liquor traders in Kallakurichi claimed 66 lives, the Chief Minister who did not go there; when the southern districts were affected by heavy rains, the Chief Minister who went to Delhi for INDI alliance agreements instead of going there and meeting the people--now that he has rushed here alone, the public knows the background," he added.
"While the court and the inquiry commission are conducting investigations, the former Prohibition Minister's display of so much nervousness is what raises strong suspicions," the X post read.
Annamalai's jibe comes after V Senthil Balaji mentioned that the "situation should not be politicised".
"I do not wish to view this politically. Of the 41 victims, 39 were from Karur. Without blaming anyone, we must ensure that such incidents do not occur in the coming days. This situation should not be politicised. Whatever party's event it may be in the future, we must join together and take the necessary steps to prevent such incidents," the former minister said.
He further mentioned that the political party which is holding the rally is ultimately responsible for estimating how many people will gather at the event.
"When holding a public meeting, it is the responsibility of a political party to estimate how many people will gather and choose the venue accordingly. At the Karur Lighthouse Corner, a maximum of 7,000 people can stand, while near the Uzhavar Sandhai, only about 5,000 people can gather," he added. (ANI)