Stampede at Vijay's rally in Karur leaves 41 dead
- Allegations of corruption: From Karunanidhi to the current government
- Vijay's accusations and demand for a CBI investigation
The upcoming assembly elections and the challenge to the DMK
Justice Markandey Katju raised questions about corruption and the Karur stampede tragedy in Tamil Nadu, criticising the state government. Vijay demanded a CBI investigation, which could potentially alter the electoral landscape.
Something is rotten in the State of Tamil Nadu
By Justice Markandey Katju
'' Something is rotten in the State of Denmark", said Shakespeare in Hamlet, and similarly, it can be said '' Something is rotten in the State of Tamilnadu".
For a long time rumours have been coming of massive corruption by the leaders and members of the ruling party in the state.
The late Mr Karunanidhi, who had come almost penniless to Chennai as a young man, thereafter acquired hundreds ( if not thousands ) of crores of rupees, and he, his son Stalin ( the present Chief Minister ) his grand nephews ( the Marans ), and other family members reportedly became billionaires, with huge assets allegedly abroad.
It is said that nowadays hardly anything moves in Tamilnadu without corruption. What a contrast since the time of late incorruptible Chief Minister Kamaraj !
Now the latest uproar is regarding the stampede on 27.9.2025 in Karur, Tamilnadu in the rally of filmstar Vijay's rally in which about 41 people, said to be supporters of his TVK party, were killed, and hundreds injured.
While CM Stalin has appointed a retired High Court Judge to investigate into the incident, Vijay, who has blamed the DMK government and the authorities for the incident, and evidently not trusting the investigation ordered by Stalin, has filed a petition in the Madras High Court asking for an independent probe by the CBI or SIT appointed by the Central Government.
It is believed that Vijay's party may get upto 20% votes in the Tamilnadu state assembly elections which are due in April-May next year. If Vijay allies with the ADMK, the DMK may well meet its Waterloo in the elections.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
