Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) headquarters in Chennai’s Panaiyur appeared solemn amidst the festive glow of Diwali lights across the city. The party’s General Secretary N Anand urged all members and district secretaries to abstain from Diwali celebrations this year in remembrance of the 41 individuals who lost their lives in a tragic stampede.
The directive from the leadership stems from the recent incident during a rally that resulted in the deaths of numerous women and children, with around 30,000 supporters in attendance on September 27. Vijay, expressing profound grief for the first time since the tragedy, conveyed his deep sorrow and anguish, stating that his heart is shattered.
Shortly after the unfortunate event, police arrested TVK’s key officials, Mathiyazhagan and C Pounraj, for alleged lapses in crowd control, although the court later released them. Additionally, cases were filed against TVK General Secretary Bussy Anand and Joint General Secretary Nirmal Sekar concerning the circumstances leading to the stampede.
According to the police report, Vijay is implicated for purported deliberate actions that contributed to the tragic outcomes during the chaos. The complaint alleges that Vijay deliberately delayed his rally appearance by about four hours, which allegedly agitated the crowd. It further claims that Vijay conducted a roadshow without authorization and that other senior TVK leaders ignored law enforcement warnings.
Despite the accusations, Vijay vehemently refuted any misconduct, asserting, “We did not do anything wrong.” In a message directed at the Chief Minister, he stated, “CM sir, if you seek retribution, deal with me alone. Spare them. I am available at home or in my office for any action against me.”