Chennai, 4 October (H.S.): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) General Secretary M A Baby on Friday sharply criticised TVK President and actor Vijay, holding his seven-hour delay in reaching the Karur campaign venue responsible for the stampede that resulted in a tragedy. Baby called the actor's subsequent disappearance along with his party leaders immediately after the incident an act unbecoming of an upcoming political leader.

A six-member CPM delegation, led by Baby, visited the families who lost members in the tragedy to offer condolences and assured the injured of all possible support. The CPM committed that area committee members would oversee relief operations and that a delegation would revisit the affected families after a year to review the situation.

While addressing reporters, M A Baby praised the swift and effective response of the Tamil Nadu government. He lauded Chief Minister MK Stalin for personally visiting the site and for immediately sending his ministers. Baby specifically applauded the government's decision to appoint Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to conduct an inquiry, referencing her previous impartial investigations into the anti-Sterlite firing tragedy.

He further commended the medical team, stating their exceptional work and continuous efforts saved every injured person except two, noting that the post-mortems were conducted on a war footing. Providing a version from a survivor, Baby cited 14-year-old Sakthivel, who recalled to the delegation that there was no regulation by the organisers at the event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary