BJP Leader Calls for Supreme Court Inquiry After Karur Stampede

A tragic stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, has left 39 people dead and over 50 injured, prompting significant political fallout. The incident occurred during a campaign event for actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on September 28, 2025. In the wake of the disaster, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nainar Nagenthran, has demanded a Supreme Court investigation and accountability from the ruling DMK government.

Nagenthran spoke to reporters after visiting the mortuary at the Karur Government Medical College Hospital, where post-mortems were being conducted. He described the incident as “unprecedented and unacceptable,” urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the situation. “The scale of this tragedy is alarming. The Tamil Nadu Police’s lethargy is evident in this disaster,” he stated. He criticized the government for failing to provide adequate security, despite knowing that Vijay’s rally would attract a large crowd.

The BJP leader emphasized that the government allocated insufficient space and did not manage the crowd effectively, leading to the tragic outcome. Nagenthran also expressed his disapproval of the compensation announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, which offered ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000) to each family of the deceased. He called for an increase to ₹1 crore (around $120,000) per family and adequate support for those injured in the incident.

“The government must recognize the enormity of this disaster—39 precious lives have been lost. Their families deserve justice and fair relief,” he asserted. Nagenthran accused the DMK government of political bias, claiming that when ruling party members visit victims, they are allowed to meet them freely, while opposition members face delays and obstructions. He alleged that the administration is dragging its feet on post-mortem processes and hinted at possible sabotage, including reports of deliberate power outages at the rally venue.

Nagenthran pointed to former Minister Senthil Balaji, suggesting that there are suspicions regarding his involvement in the mismanagement of security for the event. He linked the Karur incident to a broader pattern of negligence by the DMK, recalling the earlier Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that resulted in 65 deaths, during which he noted that Chief Minister Stalin did not visit the affected families.

As the political storm intensifies, the state government has announced a judicial probe into the stampede, which will be led by retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan. In response to the growing criticism, Chief Minister Stalin visited Karur on Sunday to console survivors and families of the deceased.

The tragic events at the rally continue to unfold, with both political ramifications and public outcry for accountability and reform in crowd management at large-scale events.