Three days after 41 people died due to a stampede in Karur at Vijay's political rally, actor and politician Vijay has let out a video statement explaining himself and his party, expressing condolences, and also being firm about the involvement of political sabotage in the incident.
He started the video by saying, "This is the most painful incident I have ever faced in my life. I am deeply grateful to the people for their constant support and love. For me, the safety of the public has always been the highest priority. That is why we chose venues that could accommodate large crowds and ensured proper coordination with the police. Yet, despite all these precautions, an unfortunate tragedy occurred in Karur."
Addressing why he left Karur after the incident and has not made a return since, he said, "I am also human—how could I leave when so many people were suffering? I returned to Karur to prevent further accidents and casualties." Further, he also offered condolences to the families of the deceased. "I offer my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and I pray for those undergoing treatment to recover soon. My words cannot bring lives back, but I will personally meet all the victims and their families."
Thanking those who stood by him and his party during this time, he said, "I extend heartfelt thanks to all the political leaders and friends who stood by us in this difficult time." Further, he addressed the sabotage angle as to what had actually transpired leading to the stampede. "I have held rallies across five districts, and such a tragedy has never occurred before. Why it happened in Karur alone is a question everyone is asking. The people of Karur know the truth, and when they speak it, I feel as though God himself has spoken. The truth will soon come out."
Lastly, he let out a strongly worded political message, saying, "We conducted the event at the venue provided to us, and beyond that, we did nothing wrong. Yet, FIRs are being filed against some of our party workers and even social media and YouTube voices who supported us. CM, sir, if you want to take revenge, direct it at me—not at them. I am either in my office or at my home; you can come to me directly. My friends, this tragedy will only make my political journey stronger and braver."
Vijay, on Sunday, promised to provide a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to the victims who are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu state government is set to provide Rs 10 lakhs as compensation for the loss, while the central government has promised Rs 2 lakhs per head.
