NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JUNE 23
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday criticized Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu, where more than 56 people have died and nearly 200 have been hospitalized.
VIDEO | Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: "Despite a lot of good advice, it was in 1971, when DMK lifted prohibition and introduced liquor in Tamil Nadu. Post that, the way liquor has been ramped up year after year, today you have TASMAC, which is government-run liquor thekedari, which… pic.twitter.com/6yPrWzsnbd
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2024
#WATCH | Delhi: On Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "More than 200 people are still in hospital in a critical stage. 56 people have died and most of them are from the scheduled caste… I condemn the incident. I am shocked that the… pic.twitter.com/06pvLqu6gC
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2024
“More than 200 people are still in hospital in a critical stage. Fifty-six people have died, and most of them are from the scheduled caste. I condemn the incident. I am shocked that the Congress has not uttered a word against this. In a state where licensed liquor is available from government-run TASMAC shops,” Sitharaman said.
- The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has ordered a judicial inquiry, to be led by retired Madras High Court judge Justice B Gokuldas, who will submit a report within three months
- DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi squarely blames BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai
- As per the information shared by the District Collectorate, Kallakurichi, there were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor
She continued, “Despite that, in the middle of Kallakurichi, chemical-based illicit liquor is served. Where is Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge? Where is Rahul Gandhi? He contests elections just because he is assured of winning. When Dalits are dying because of spurious liquor, not a statement comes from Rahul Gandhi. I demand that this whole matter be given to the CBI for investigation.”
The Congress is part of the ruling alliance with the INDIA bloc partner Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has criticized the opposition alliance, urging its leaders to show repentance by gathering near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex and observing a moment of silence for the lives lost.
As per the information shared by the District Collectorate, Kallakurichi, there were a total of 216 patients admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor.
In Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer), Puducherry, 17 patients are alive and three have been declared dead, while in Vilupuram Medical College, four people are alive and four have been declared dead.
Most deaths occurred at Kallakurichi Medical College, where 31 people are dead and 108 are alive.
At Salem Medical College, 30 people are alive, whereas 18 have been reported dead.
“There are 160 people who were admitted to the above-mentioned hospitals and 55 people are dead,” according to official data.152 male patients are alive in the incident, whereas 51 are dead.
DMK leader says Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy ‘conspiracy by Annamalai’
முதல்வர் ராஜினாபுமா செய்ய வேண்டுமா..? துச்சேரி முதல்வரை ராஜினாமா செய்ய சொல்லும் தைரியம் இபிஎஸ்க்கு உண்டா..? R.S.பாரதி கேள்வி#Pudukottai | #ADMK | #DMK | #EdappadiPalaniswami | #RSBharathi | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/hGeRT1X0lA
— Polimer News (@polimernews) June 23, 2024
The DMK has accused the BJP of being responsible for the tragic deaths in the hooch tragedy, claiming that the methanol used to produce the illicit liquor was sourced from Puducherry, a state ruled by the BJP-led alliance. A DMK leader called the incident a “planned conspiracy by Annamalai”.
In a press conference, DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi squarely blamed BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai for the incident. Bharathi’s allegations come in response to Annamalai’s earlier demand for Chief Minister MK Stalin’s resignation over the tragedy.
Addressing these remarks, Bharathi asserted, “If anyone needs to resign, it’s their (BJP) ministers and the Chief Minister of Puducherry. The police are telling us that the raw materials came from there. The BJP is liable. They have done it. I’m calling this a planned conspiracy by Annamalai. This is related to Vikravandi election. I have doubts if it was done before elections.”
Bharathi further questioned whether BJP leaders and ministers were held accountable for incidents in the past.
“Had the Railway Minister resigned after the Darjeeling train accident? Did the Union Minister resign due to the conspiracies that have hit NEET? Did Narendra Modi resign in 2009 when 137 people died after drinking illicit liquor?” questioned RS Bharathi.
He also accused Annamalai of spreading false information regarding the incident, including the resignation of the district’s Superintendent of Police.
