Velusamypuram will stay a painful reminiscence for Tamil Nadu. The dimensions of the tragedy that unfolded with the lack of 40 lives, together with 10 youngsters and a number of other girls, in a political gathering is grotesque, if not unprecedented.
Actor and TVK chief Vijay is thought to draw crowds. Regardless of the place his political journey takes him, this one tragedy will stay an indelible reminiscence. It ought to remind each politician and star the flipside of their mass attraction, star show, political energy and the craze they thrive on.
The rally, which was organised by Vijay’s political supporters, noticed giant crowds and heavy safety presence. Nonetheless, what was meant to be a present of power for the actor’s rising political affect as an alternative changed into a catastrophe, exposing a number of flaws. The state administration and the DMK have categorically blamed TVK for flouting the situations underneath which the permission to carry the rally was given. The TVK has alleged a felony conspiracy, whereas the AIADMK and BJP have blamed each the TVK and the state authorities.
One key takeaway from the response to the tragedy is that Vijay continues to behave just like the enormously highly effective star and never a grassroots politician. The truth that he left for Chennai and has not met the press after such an unlimited tragedy has been critically criticised. Even his social gathering hasn’t put out a single senior chief earlier than the media and as an alternative has relied on social media posts and ahead.
It is clearly time for Vijay to deal with a press convention and face robust questions, each about his politics and this tragedy.
This, particularly as each politician value their salt in Tamil Nadu has made a public show of grief at Karur, ostentatious or not, it is a part of electoral politics. If Vijay cannot come out in public as a result of it’ll create extra crowds, his social gathering’s senior management must have been on show. Sadly, that senior management stays invisible.
Nonetheless, it is vital to chop beneath the politics and ask particular questions and categorical solutions, that are important to find out the reality. Whereas Vijay must reply robust questions, the Tamil Nadu Police and the state authorities cannot duck accountability.
The Delay: A Key Issue?
Vijay was scheduled to reach at midday, however he reached solely after 6 pm. The crowds surged to see him and hundreds waited regardless of the warmth all day. This was attribute of crowds for large stars anyplace in south India. Stars and even politicians come late to permit the crowds to assemble and, within the sweltering warmth, the star-stricken followers show each little bit of their endurance to get a glimpse of their icon.
Why was Vijay so delayed is the primary essential query? Did this delay add to the chaos? The crowds surged as soon as he arrived, as is at all times the case, however did the delay depart them in a determined state. May issues have been totally different had the occasion adopted its deliberate timings?
Why Floodlights Went Darkish?
It is now clear that quickly after Vijay reached the spot, the floodlights went off for a bit. This threw the realm into darkness. Did this result in panic? The federal government mentioned energy from the electrical energy board was not lower off, however a floodlight linked to a generator organised by the TVK switched off after energy to it from the generator was lower off. We merely have to know who lower the facility and why? Was it as a result of folks fell on the generator and did the lights going darkish result in a panic and therefore the stampede?
Tree Department Incident
Vijay’s followers are recognized to climb on buildings, poles, banners and something that can provide them a vantage view of the star. He has warned his followers, however did they observe? A damaged tree department with slippers on it reveals how followers had climbed there to get a vantage view. The department gave approach, did that result in some chaos?
Police Motion: Lathicharge And Its Influence
Photographs of the police utilizing lathis to regulate the crowds have been circulated. Was this completed to clear the way in which for Vijay? If sure, did this add to the scenario. Such had been the crowds that it was just about unimaginable to take individuals who had fainted to the ambulance or exterior the chaos.
What precisely did these 500 policemen do? Was their response sufficient, or was the scenario just too overwhelming for them to handle? This isn’t the primary rally by Vijay, there have been many previously, certainly the police had been conscious of the scenario.
The Query Of Planning: Was It Enough?
The important query revolves across the planning of the occasion and the permissions given. Regardless of the rally being authorized, it’s changing into clear that the authorities and organisers did not account for the quantity of people that would present up.
The rally’s authentic software requested permission for 10,000 folks, however reviews point out that the gang measurement ballooned to an estimated 27,000. That is the job of the native intelligence to estimate they usually understand how to do that.
Was there sufficient planning to accommodate such a big crowd? Was the selection of venue, which was cleared by the police, a good determination? The slim roads resulting in the venue additionally raised considerations about whether or not it was acceptable to host an occasion of this magnitude in such a constrained location.
Experiences recommend the TVK initially sought an much more congested location for the rally, however had been denied by the police. The selection of Velusamipuram was an alternate cleared by the police. The shortage of coordination between the organisers and the authorities may have led to this case. The TVK has had a hostile change with the state administration and has blamed the police in previous rallies.
Whereas it’s the accountability of the police to implement the situations imposed for such an occasion, it is equally the accountability of the organisers to stick to it.
The police have alleged the TVK flouted a number of norms. They are saying there was a scarcity of primary facilities like water and shelter from the warmth for such a big gathering. Too many ads and flex boards additionally led to lots of distraction. These had been reportedly put in at numerous areas within the metropolis with out permission. Many followers even fashioned convoys of automobiles round Vijay’s automobile, which was clearly not allowed.
Previous Classes Forgotten
Remoted incidents of suffocation, fainting, and accidents have been reported throughout Vijay’s rallies in Trichy, Ariyalur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Namakkal. Regardless of these earlier classes, the organisers and authorities appear to have did not implement sufficient security measures, highlighting a important hole in planning and crowd administration that continues to be ignored.
The political change over the lack of 40 lives is sure to be intense, however it could not assist in discovering the info. The truth is, it’ll solely bury the info. It does depart a query mark over Vijay’s rallies in future. He has the precise to marketing campaign and the state has the accountability to guard the folks. How will we stability that proper and responsibility with actuality is a key query.
The police have filed severe expenses towards TVK leaders, however not Vijay himself. He might not be legally answerable for the tragedy, however the ethical accountability is on Vijay as a lot as it’s on the authorities who had been in cost.
Final, however not the least, dad and mom who take toddlers to an occasion of this nature actually need to query what they’re doing. The glimpse of a star or a politician will not be value such an effort, younger or previous. It is a tragic reflection of our society.
(The writer is Govt Editor, NDTV)
Disclaimer: These are the non-public opinions of the writer.
