Stalin desisted from booking Vijay in stampede case on humanitarian grounds, says former Law Minister

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Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin desisted from booking Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in the Karur stampede case on “humanitarian grounds” despite advice to the contrary, former Minister S. Reghupathy said here on Saturday.

“We too said the same; that Mr. Vijay should be included as the first accused in the case. Apart from turning up late for the event, he sang and danced atop a bus like in a cinema, triggering crowd surge and the accident. As Law Minister, I pleaded with our Chief Minister Stalin. But he was humane as it was an actor who had just started a party,” Mr. Regupathy said commenting on VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan’s remark that the DMK had been liberal with Mr. Vijay in the stampede case.

Forty-one people died in the crowd crush and stampede during a TVK roadshow addressed by party leader Mr. Vijay on September 27. The CBI is now investigating the case following a Supreme Court order.

Speaking to reporters after leading a demonstration in Pudukottai against the Chief Minister for denigrating Mr. Stalin in the Assembly, Mr. Regupathy said Mr. Vijay knew nothing about MISA. The Sarkaria Commission report had been “dropped’ long ago and the charges raised by the Enforcement Directorate (against the previous DMK government) were yet to be proved in the court, he said.

He denied Mr. Thirumavalvan’s contention that Mr. Stalin was not accommodative of the alliance parties. No other alliance leader in the country gave as much importance to the allies and their leaders. Once they exit the alliance, they make such allegations, Mr. Regupathy said.

Mr. Regupathy said the DMK would raise before the people issues such as the severe power cuts, rise in prices of rice and other essential commodities in the forthcoming byelection in the State. The people would not remain silent for long; the government would face a people’s revolution soon, he said.

Tiruchi / state politics / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam

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