Inappropriate to arrest Vijay in stampede case as name not in FIR: VCK's Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday said it would be inappropriate to arrest actor-politician Vijay in connection with the stampede at the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, as his name is not mentioned in the FIR registered by the police.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "However, if police find evidence of Vijay's involvement in the alleged incident, then they may take action as per the law."
According to police, Karur West District Secretary V P Mathyiyalagan was among the TVK functionaries named in the FIR over the stampede. Mathyiyalagan and the party's Central District Secretary Kasi Pounraj were arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.
TVK State general secretary Bussy N Anand and deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar were also named in the FIR.
On the constitution of a panel by the NDA, Thirumavalavan criticised the saffron party and accused it of playing its "political game".
"Looks like the appointment of the NDA panel has been done with an ulterior motive," said the VCK leader whose party is an ally of the ruling DMK.
He demanded that the Congress party also send its panel to investigate the incident in Karur.
"Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should form a panel comprising Parliamentarians hailing from other states and send it to Karur district," he urged.
During the rally of Tamilaga Vetrik Kazhagam (TVK) led by its leader Actor-Politician Vijay, 41 people died and nearly 60 injured in the stampede on September 27 at Velusamypuram in Karur.
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Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds roadshow in south Kolkata to end campaign
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertook a roadshow in south Kolkata spanning over six kilometres on Monday afternoon at the fag end of campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly election.
The TMC chief was accompanied by party Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose and candidates Aroop Biswas and Debasish Kumar from Tollygunge and Rashbehari, respectively.
People waiting on the roadside and on rooftops and balconies waved at Banerjee as she greeted them with folded hands, walking briskly, as her party compatriots had a tough time keeping pace with her.
The chief minister is contesting from the Bhabanipur assembly seat, where she is pitted against her bete noire, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, who defeated her in the 2021 elections in Nandigram.
Banerjee was subsequently elected from Bhabanipur in a byelection.
The roadshow started at Sukanta Setu in the Jadavpur area and culminated at Gopalnagar crossing, past her Kalighat residence, with two small stopovers in between.
TMC flags, festoons, cutouts of Banerjee and banners with slogans in favour of the candidates adorned the roadsides through which the road show passed and culminated at around 5.30 pm.
A large number of TMC supporters participated in the roadshow that Banerjee conducted to end her campaign for the 2026 assembly election in West Bengal.
