Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has questioned Union Finance Minister and BJP MP Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit to Karur stampede site asking why similar visits were not done by the BJP in Manipur, Gujarat and Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. Stalin said the BJP-led Centre does not have any genuine concern for the southern state, and the delegation was sent because Tamil Nadu will go to polls next year.
A stampede occurred during TVK chief actor Vijay’s rally in Karur on September 27, killing 41 people. The visuals showed a massive crowd gathered to listen to Vijay, who came 5-6 hours late. The police said the delay was one of the factors behind the accident.
He said no inquiry commission was sent for Manipur riots, Gujarat incidents and Kumbh mela stampede deaths but Finance Minister Sitharaman “immediately rushed to Karur”. He said the Centre has always ignored Tamil Nadu during disasters and now because of elections, they are showing affection to the state.
“When Tamil Nadu was struck by three major disasters, affecting thousands of people, the Union BJP Finance Minister neither visited nor provided any funds. But now, she immediately rushes to Karur. The BJP, which did not send inquiry commissions for the Manipur riots, Gujarat incidents, or the Kumbh Mela deaths, is now promptly sending a team to Karur, not out of any genuine concern for Tamil Nadu, but simply because elections are due next year,” the Chief Minister said at an event in Ramanathapuram.
‘BJP survives by sucking someone else’s blood’
Intensifying his attack on the saffron party, Stalin said that the BJP plans to gain political mileage out of Karur stampede or might “use it to threaten someone”. “The BJP is in a position where it survives by sucking someone else’s blood.” Stalin also targeted the AIADMK, accusing it of supporting a party that neglects state interests,” he said,
Stalin was inaugurating development projects in Ramanathapuram district, where he emphasised that the Centre had ignored Tamil Nadu during previous disasters.
“The Union BJP, which neglects state interests, strips away state rights, and even thinks states should not exist, is being supported by the AIADMK. As the opposition, instead of standing firm, AIADMK has signed a bond of slavery with the BJP and reduced itself to a mere puppet. Does the BJP have an ideological basis for its support? Any grounds of public welfare? Any concern for people’s interests? Or are they at least bound by any principle? Nothing at all,” he added, quoted PTI.
BJP is a ‘washing machine’
The Tamil Nadu CM said the BJP is nothing but a “washing machine” for those trying to escape accountability and described it as the “political arm” of the RSS.
“Those who are guilty and want to escape from their wrongdoings see the BJP as a washing machine to cleanse their wrongdoings.” “BJP is nothing but the political arm and power centre that enforces the divisive policies of the RSS across the country. Having come to power a third time with reduced public support and only the backing of a few, the BJP has begun walking even faster on the RSS path,” CM Stalin added.
Attacking RSS, Stalin said that the organisation “tried to murder the great leader Kamarajar, during its centenary, and has only intensified its divisive activities”. “But history shows, and will continue to show, that it is our duty to protect the people from such forces. This mission will continue under the Dravidian Model 2.0. In the upcoming elections too, it will once again be the Dravidian Model government that wins and continues to rule,” he added.