TN stampede: Didn't visit Karur since it would lead to an 'unusual' situation, says Vijay
Chennai (PTI): Days after a rally led by him in Tamil Nadu's Karur witnessed 41 stampede deaths, TVK founder, actor Vijay on Tuesday said he hasn't visited the affected persons so far as his presence there would lead to an "unusual situation." Challenging Chief Minister M K Stalin, Vijay said the CM could "do anything to him," but not his party colleagues.
He insisted he did nothing wrong and that the truth behind the fatal incident would come out.
The top actor said he has never faced such a "painful situation" in his life.
"I didn't visit Karur as it would lead to an unusual situation. I will meet you (families of victims, the injured) soon," he said in a video message posted on his social media page.
His response came following criticism from various quarters for not visiting Karur and meet the victims' families and the injured.
Vijay said the truth about the fatal incident will come out soon, and hinted he was ready to face action.
"You may do anything to me," he said, even as his party colleagues including senior leaders Bussy N Anand and CTR Nirmal Kumar are police facing case in connection with the September 27 stampede in Tamil Nadu's western Karur district, about 400 km from state capital Chennai.
Seeking to take on the ruling DMK over the matter, he said "CM sir, if you have a thought of seeking vengeance, you may do anything to me and not touch the party men."
On the day of the incident, he had left Karur hastily, considering people's safety, he claimed.
Vijay insisted he did nothing wrong.
"I did not do any wrong; my political journey will continue with renewed vigour," the actor-politician added.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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