Karur, October 3, 2025 – A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by General Secretary M.A. Baby, visited Karur today to meet families affected by the September 27 stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally that tragically claimed 41 lives and injured over 100 people.
While praising the Tamil Nadu government's swift post-tragedy response, Mr. Baby sharply criticized the TVK event organizers for severe organizational and coordination failures, calling the incident "the biggest ever casualty happening in connection with a demonstration of a political party." He also questioned the conduct of actor-politician Vijay. The General Secretary strongly supported the ongoing judicial inquiry and called for immediate employment and educational support for the bereaved families.
Six-Member Delegation Assesses Tragedy
The delegation included M.A. Baby, Politburo member U. Vasuki, Central Committee member and Lok Sabha group leader K. Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha member R. Sachidanandam, MLA Nagai Mali, and Rajya Sabha member Dr. V. Sivadasan. They were accompanied by local party functionaries.
The team visited multiple affected families, including the family of 2-year-old Duru Vishnu and the home of Chandra. During the visit, Mr. Baby and the delegation successfully persuaded Chandra’s son, Sakthikumar, who had discontinued his studies, to resume his education as a tribute to his mother. The local CPI(M) area committee has taken responsibility for providing educational support and monitoring his progress. The delegation also met Sharmila, whose child Bharadheek died, and visited a hospital where an adolescent boy is still undergoing treatment.
Tamil Nadu Government's Response Praised
M.A. Baby commended Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's government for its "immediate action" and its decision not to politically exploit the incident. He praised the deployment of important ministers, the Chief Minister’s midnight visit, and the "wonderful job" done by the medical staff, noting that the administrative and medical efficiency—including the completion of most post-mortems within eight hours—was "a record."
Sharp Criticism of Event Organization and Vijay's Conduct
Despite praising the government, Baby leveled serious criticism against the event's organizers. He highlighted a number of severe failures that led to the catastrophe:
Lack of Crowd Control: He stated there was "insufficient care from the organizers," and they failed to use the public address system to direct people to calm down or ensure security.
Seven-Hour Delay: Actor-politician Vijay's seven-hour delay forced the crowd, including "old people, children," to wait without any drinking water or refreshments, increasing frustration and exhaustion.
Water Bottle Incident: Baby recounted reports that the stampede began when Vijay "was throwing a few water bottles," leading to a "scramble, rush, and stampede."
Poor Coordination: He noted a lack of coordination with government authorities, contrasting it with the CPI(M)’s own practices for large-scale events.
Inadequate Volunteer Management: He contrasted the organizers' poor volunteer management with the disciplined system employed by the CPI(M) to enforce regulations, especially for women’s safety zones.
Furthermore, Mr. Baby questioned the conduct of the TVK leader, Vijay: "Rather than trying to control the situation, at the first opportunity, he disappeared from the scene," the General Secretary alleged. He also noted that Vijay waited three hours before issuing any statement and three days for a video release, asserting, "I don't think this is becoming a seasoned political leader."
Call for Impartial Judicial Inquiry and Victim Support
The CPI(M) General Secretary fully supported the one-person commission of inquiry headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, stating she has "already established her impartiality and competence." He opposed demands for a CBI inquiry, arguing the judicial commission and police were sufficient.
"The judicial inquiry should be completed in a time-bound manner and bring to book all those who are responsible for this horrendous tragedy. None should be spared," Baby declared.
Beyond the existing compensation, the party made two key demands for victim support:
Employment for Bereaved Families: "The government should provide suitable employment to one person in each affected family based on their educational qualifications and work capacity," he urged, stressing that "nothing can be repaired" for the irreversible loss of life.
Educational Support: He called for continued educational assistance, noting the party's commitment to supporting Sakthikumar and Sharmila to resume their studies.
Mr. Baby concluded by commending the state and district CPI(M) units for their tradition of being in the forefront to help people during tragedies.
