Coming down heavily on the leaders of the INDIA bloc over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed 57 lives, BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on Monday that instead of demonstrating, they should apologise for this 'Anyay' in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at the Parliament. Alleging that the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi is a state-sponsored murder, Poonawalla criticised the state government of Tamil Nadu for neither initiating a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident nor removing the concerned minister.
"The saying 'Sau Chuhe Khakar Billi Haj Ko Chali' is being proven when a few leaders of the opposition and the INDI Alliance are going for a demonstration in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue. Do it, but also tell us what the biggest principle of Mahatma Gandhi was. He wanted a liquor ban and freedom from the drug menace," he said. "57 people have been murdered in Kallakurichi due to liquor. This is a state-sponsored murder...Neither was a CBI probe done, nor was the minister removed," the BJP leader added.
Hitting out at Congress leaders over their silence on the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, Poonawalla said, "Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi who were speaking about north-south and rights of Dalits are silent. Where is Nyay? They should apologise for this 'Anyay' at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi." As the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha begins on Monday, the opposition leaders are expected to assemble where the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was placed earlier. They are also likely to carry a copy of the Constitution with them.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will witness the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, the number of people who died in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor has risen to 57, according to updated information released by the district administration on Monday.
A total of 156 people are undergoing treatment at various Government hospitals in the state after consuming illicit liquor. A total of 110 persons are undergoing treatment at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College hospital. Twelve persons are admitted at Puducherry 20 persons are undergoing treatment at Salem and four in Viluppuram government hospitals. A total of seven people including five men and two women who were undergoing treatment at hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor have been discharged, according to Kallakurichi District Magistrate.
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So far, 32 persons have died at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College and Hospital, 18 at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital in Salem. Four persons have died at the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital and three at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday said the state government will take care of the entire education and hostel expenses of children who have lost either one or both of their parents in the Kallakuruchi hooch tragedy. The government will provide Rs 5000 monthly assistance until the age of 18 for children who have lost both their parents and Rs 5 lakh will be deposited immediately as a fixed deposit in the names of children who have lost both parents, Stalin said.
After the minors turn 18, the amount can be withdrawn with interest, the chief minister said. Similarly, Rs 3 lakh will be deposited as a fixed deposit for children who have lost one parent. Priority will be given to them in all government welfare schemes, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said. On the other hand, the CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police, which was handed over charge of investigating the tragedy, commenced a probe under SP Shantharam. As per the Kallakurichi Collector, seven people have been arrested in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.