By Kavita Mistry 
Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor-turned-politician Vijay spoke out Tuesday about the stampede that left 41 people dead at his rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district. In a video released on social media, he hinted at a possible political vendetta, hours after the Karur police arrested two functionaries of his party in connection with the 27 September incident.
Why did the stampede happen only in Karur and not in the five other districts where he campaigned previously, Vijay asked in the video. He also dared Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take action against him and spare TVK workers.
“We went to the place which was allocated to us and we spoke there and returned. Beyond that, we did not make any mistakes. But still my party functionaries were slapped with FIR, a few social media users were also slapped with FIRs and arrested. CM sir, if you want to take any revenge, you can do anything to me, don’t touch them (TVK workers). I will either be at my house or in the office. You can do anything to me,” he said.
The TVK president said the tragedy was the “most painful situation in his life”.
“I have never faced such a painful situation in my life. My heart is filled with pain. Only pain. In this campaign, a lot of people are coming to see me. There is only one reason for it, their trust and love,” he said in the nearly five-minute video.
Vijay said that while planning his rallies, he and his team had always prioritised public safety over political considerations.
The actor-turned-politician said he left Karur after the stampede because staying there could have triggered further chaos. “I am also a common man. How can I leave the city when so many people are affected? Had I planned to go back (to Karur), that would have become a reason for another untoward incident. That’s why I avoided going back.”
He also offered condolences to the bereaved families. “At this time, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the kin of those who lost their lives. I know the loss is irreparable. I pray for the speedy recovery of those who are getting treated at hospitals. I will meet you all soon.”
He also thanked political leaders and supporters who “understood our pain and spoke on our behalf”.
He also raised questions on why the stampede happened only in Karur, adding that the “truth will come out” soon. “We went to campaign for about five districts in the past. Nothing like this happened. But why is it happening in Karur alone? People know all the truth and people are watching it. When Karur people started telling the truth, I felt like God came down here to tell the truth. Soon, all the truth will come out.”
Vijay ended his speech saying that the TVK’s political journey will continue and grow stronger.
TVK functionaries, social media users arrested
The two arrested TVK functionaries were identified as VP Mathiazhagan, Karur west district secretary of TVK, and Masi Pavunraj, the party’s Karur Central town district secretary.
Police also arrested three social media users and a journalist and YouTuber for allegedly spreading misinformation surrounding the deadly stampede.
The three social media users were identified as Sagayam (38), Sivaneshwaran (36) and Sharath Kumar (32). Greater Chennai police have also registered FIR against 25 social media accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation against the state government and police department.
Greater Chennai cybercrime police also arrested journalist-YouTuber Felix Gerald for allegedly propagating disinformation about the stampede in one of his videos.
Soon after the stampede, in which 41 people died of asphyxiation, Karur police had registered an FIR against Mathiazhagan, general secretary of TVK N. Anand and deputy general secretary of TVK Nirmal Kumar under sections 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (acts of rashness or negligence endangering human life), and 223 (disobedience to an order issued by a public authority) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.
In the FIR, police had stated that the deliberate delay caused by the TVK was one of the reasons for the tragedy.
“Vijay’s campaign vehicle halted amidst the huge crowd of party workers at multiple locations and a deliberate delay was caused for a short time,”the FIR read.
The FIR also said that the cadres climbing atop the trees and tin roofs contributed to the stampede. “Cadres climbed tin roofs and tree branches and they fell on people standing below. While many choked, some were injured in the incident,”it said.
Vijay conducted a roadshow without permission from the police, the FIR further claimed. “There were multiple halts by the campaign vehicle before reaching the spot. It turned out to be a roadshow of the leader, for which no permission was given. This worsened the crowd control situation,” it read.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)